Cerca:chop

Conic Rose's debut album has finally come to life on stage. After two years of playing it live, the music has grown, shifted, and deepened. This live album captures that process - recorded in one night at Kantine Berghain, Berlin.

'In collaboration with the children of Nico Kasanda, better known as Docteur Nico, Planet Ilunga proudly presents an anthology dedicated to African Fiesta Sukisa, available as a 3LP set and a digital release with bonus songs. This release is the result of many years of preparations and was realized in close partnership with Liliane Kasanda, Nico’s eldest daughter. Marking forty years since his passing, we felt that the year 2025 was the right time to honor Docteur Nico’s legacy with this original collection.
'Almost all of the African Fiesta Sukisa songs were released on Nico’s Sukisa label which translates in Lingala for “the final accomplishment”. The music on Sukisa, crafted by Nico and legendary vocalists such as Chantal, Sangana, Apôtre, Mizele, Lessa Lassan and Josky, embodies the essence of that powerful phrase with genius, class and depth. The label ran between 1966 and 1975 and released approximately 280 songs. Ngoma also issued the group between 1967 and 1971 and, in addition, reissued material from the Sukisa label. Many of these songs have become part of the collective memory of Congolese society and are still heard, discussed, and analyzed daily across digital platforms worldwide, as well as on numerous Congolese radio and TV stations.
'The album we put together features some of Nico’s signature songs alongside never before reissued tracks from the Sukisa catalog. It furthermore contains a large booklet with song commentary, testimonial interviews from well-known musicians, journalists, fans and Nico’s entourage, besides never before published photography about his personal and musical life.
'Alastair Johnston, author of the book ‘A Discography of Docteur Nico’ and longstanding Planet Ilunga collaborator, designed a stylish booklet and cover using all our collected material. Audifax Bemba, longtime admirer, compiler and connoisseur of Nico’s music, and the author of most of the song commentary in our accompanying booklet, offers his portrait of Docteur Nico:
“After displaying technical virtuosity with African Jazz, expert and accomplished guitar with African Fiesta, which musicologist Sylvain Bemba described as a dream guitar, Nico Kasanda was consecrated ‘dieu de la guitare’ by the public in the late sixties. With his band African Fiesta Sukisa, Docteur Nico displays his wide palette of unusual sounds. While exploring the Hawaiian guitar with its clear, airy, plangent, psychedelic effluvia, he continues to replicate the piano comping technique, and adds two missing strings to his bow: a simulation of the sanza (likembé or thumb piano), whose sounds he reproduces right down to the noisemakers of the tiny tin rings, on the one hand, and the sounds of the Luba balafon on the other. The right note, in the right place, at the right time, is the triptych on which Nico Kasanda’s playing is based, a note dressed in the perfect sound. A guitar of pure emotion. With African Fiesta Sukisa, his playing takes a ‘Chopin-esque’ turn, sending out more notes in a sublime adagio. The true artist is the one who simplifies everything. Docteur Nico is a genius of our time, whose style makes him the supreme exponent of the most important guitar school in Congolese music. He is recognized by his peers as the greatest African solo guitarist of all time. Sculpting sound in a tireless quest for beauty, Nico Kasanda has sublimated the guitar throughout his career.”






























[xd] Kamulangu [Outro] (Dr. Kasanda – Sukisa 135) Folklore Baluba

Mikhail Pletnev veröffentlicht sein erstes Studioalbum bei Deutsche Grammophon seit 2005.
Die künstlerische Vielseitigkeit des Pianisten, Dirigenten und Komponisten spiegelt sich in der besonderen
Ausdruckskraft seiner Interpretationen zweier bedeutender Präludien-Zyklen wider: Chopins 24 Préludes
op. 28 und Skrjabins 24 Préludes op. 11. Mit unnachahmlicher Klanggestaltung fängt der legendäre russische Künstler den Charakter jeder einzelnen Miniatur ein.
Das Album war als Konzertaufnahme geplant und wurde dann doch zu einer Studioaufnahme. Ein Glücksfall für alle Hörenden, denn, was bei der Studioaufnahme entstand, in einer einzigen, viereinhalbstündigen
Sitzung, kann nur als pure Magie bezeichnet werden. Eingespielt hat Pletnev das Album an seinem
bevorzugten Instrument, einem Shigeru-Kawai-Flügel.
Die Vinyleinspielung ist noch in zweiter Hinsicht eine echte Sensation: Sie ist die erste rein analoge DGNeuproduktion seit den Achtzigerjahren! Mit speziell angefertigten Sennheiser-Mikrofonen und einer Studer
C37-Röhrenbandmaschine wurde Pletnevs Aufnahme festgehalten und anschließend mit klassischen Schnittund Klebetechniken minimal bearbeitet. Das Ergebnis ist der unverfälschte Klang in seiner vollen, warmen
Musikalität, die dem Original Leben und Tiefe verleiht.
Für die hochauflösende Digitalaufnahme für die CD-Version kam ein Elf-Kanal-Mikrofonaufbau zum Einsatz, welche die feinsten Nuancen und Details authentisch zur Geltung bringt.

Chopins Cellosonate op. 65 stammt aus den Jahren 1845/46 und vereint alle Reize seines Klavierwerks.
Mit einem erstaunlichen Verständnis für den Charakter des Cellos vergisst man, dass seine schöpferischen
Ideen anfangs pianistischen Ursprungs waren.
Schumann schrieb nur wenige Werke für Cello und Klavier, aber diese wenigen sind von herausragender
Bedeutung: das Adagio und Allegro op. 70 von 1849 ist charakteristisch für Schumanns Mischung aus
Melancholie und Natürlichkeit. Ein tiefgehendes Verständnis für einander und große Harmonie kennzeichnen diese außergewöhnliche Aufnahme von Argerich und Rostropovich.
Die audiophile Vinyl-Serie The Original Source präsentiert herausragende Aufnahmen der 1970er Jahre
in ganz neuer Klangqualität. Dafür haben die renommierten Emil Berliner Studios die originalen Vier- und
Achtspur-Bänder mit eigens für die Produktion der Serie entwickelten Technologien in 100% analoger Qualität (AAA) neu gemastert und geschnitten. Die klanglichen Unterschiede zu den Originalveröffentlichungen sind beträchtlich: Größere Klarheit, mehr Feinheiten und Verbesserungen im Frequenzgang, zugleich
weniger Nebengeräusche, Verzerrungen und Komprimierungen ermöglichen ein audiophiles Hörerlebnis wie
nie zuvor.
Auf 180g Vinylplatten und in einer Deluxe-Gatefold Edition mit Originalcovers und -texten werden die
Exemplare dieser Serie limitiert und nummeriert veröffentlicht, begleitet von zusätzlichen Fotos und Faksimiles der Aufnahmeprotokolle und Bandkartons.

The Chopped Not Slopped version of early contender for 2025 rap album of the year, Life Is Beautiful, by hip-hop heavyweights Larry June, 2 Chainz & The Alchemist. Pressed on stunning Translucent Purple vinyl, this 1xLP is the perfect collectors item for any fan of the Houston Chopped & Screwed Culture. Chopped by Houston royalty OG Ron C & The Chopstars, the 11 track album is resequenced and sprinkled with his own twists throughout. Limited to 2000 units worldwide and likely never pressed again.

PLEVNA is the solo project of Horatiu Serbanescu, tracing a path through motion and memory. Ethnic roots, eastern-twilight melodies, and synthetic textures weave a sound that feels both ancient and entirely new. Nothing here asks to be named.

Backyard Babies was formed in 1987 in Nässjö and can by rights be called Sweden’s most influential glam punk act. Between 1994 and 2019
they released eight studio albums of which both Making Enemies Is Good and Stockholm Syndrome won them a Swedish Grammy.

In 2005 they released their only live album, recorded at La Maroquinerie on May 6 2004, and features blistering, turbocharged renditions
of album hits such as "Minus Celsius", "Earn the Crown", and "Brand New Hate". The chops of guitarist Dregen (of The Hellacopters fame)
propel the whole thing forward with reckless abandon while singer Nicke Borg keeps riling up the crowd in between songs,
adding to the immediacy of a tightly recorded live album. This edition comes with a 4-page booklet containing concert photos.

Live Live In Paris is now available on vinyl for the first time as a 20th anniversary edition of 666 individually numbered copies on yellow & black marbled vinyl.

2025 Repress

Moods & Grooves proudly welcomes the return of one of Detroit’s best multi-talented producers, Andrés.

“Out In The Open” released in 2002, established Andrés's identity as many assumed he was an alias of Kenny Dixon Jr. He’s finally back with a full release for Moods & Grooves after a couple of dope remixes of Cool Peepl and Jason Hogans/Paul Randolph.

“Back In The Open” chops up a classic hit along with a few unknowns that will keep the floors moving throughout the night.

• Fusion aus Klassik & Moderne – Bach, Mozart und Chopin verschmelzen mit Beats aus Hip Hop, House, Jazz und Pop

• Starkes Live-Programm – Auftritte u. a. in der Berliner Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, La Cigale Paris und London Union Chapel

• Zeitgeist & Virtuosität – Virtuoses Klavierspiel trifft auf Club-Vibe und macht Klassik für neue Generationen erlebbar

Mit »Classifi ed Fusion« verbindet Levi. sct Klassik und Moderne auf einzigartige Weise. Der Pianist und Produzent mit Millionen Followern weltweit lässt Bach von Beats durchziehen, verwandelt Chopin in House und Mozart in Hip-Hop. Virtuosität trifft auf Club-Vibe, Improvisation auf Zeitgeist. Nach viralen Erfolgen begeistert Levi. sct nun mit einem Album, das Klassik neu erzählt und Grenzen mühelos überwindet.

British South African composer & producer Galina Juritz presents 'One Weird Trick', her debut solo album on London's home for interdisciplinary oddballs, Kit Records.

As a classically trained violinist, Galina has worked in bands and ensembles such as ShhArt Ensemble, Inclementine, and in various combinations featuring leading musicians from Cape Town and Johannesburg's classical and jazz scenes.

Galina composed the music for Madness: Songs Of Hope and Despair, a cantata made in collaboration with Dizu Plaatjies, with a libretto by psychiatrist Dr Sean Baumann. Madness debuted at the World Psychiatry International Congress in 2016, and had a two week run at Cape Town's Baxter Theatre in 2017. As a composer she writes frequently for film, animation and ensemble.

She has collaborated with the likes of composer Neo Muyanga, Mr Beatnick, Cara Stacey, Kelpe, Juliana Venter, Violeta Garcia, Kit Records head Richard Greenan & more. Galina has been remixed by the likes of Photay, Memotone and Tom Skinner (Sons of Kemet, The Smile).

'One Weird Trick' is the culmination of her solo material. Still rooted in the ornate, technical world of string composition and arrangement, the album is stubbornly unclassifiable.

Opening with time-dilated ambient ('Leaves') before segueing into rippling, florid techno ('Skeleton and Tiger fighting'), Galina twists again and again, shifting gears through stoned, jazz-inflected r'n'b ('Things I Know to be True'), string-led widescreen songcraft ('Come Back') and orchestral minimalism for standing on vast shorelines ('Time Split at the Seams of Your Departure [everything is now before and after]').

On the B side, Galina flexes her composition chops with the storming jazz of 'Spirit Level', recorded by Cape Town-based musicians Buddy Wells, Andrew Lilley, Jonno Sweetman & Stephen de Souza. Galina is then joined by the Stockholm Sax Quartet on 'In Rebellion of Time', a stately Reichian revelation that moves from solemn ballet to ecstatic multiharmonic denouement. To close, Galina retrieves oozing electronics and smeared journal entries from the guts of a black hole - a fitting conclusion to a truly unique, unpredictable, delightful, sad, infectious, and bizarre record.

Influences / sounds like: Louis Cole, Matthew Herbert, Darkside, Thundercat, Eiko Ishibashi, ECM, Oliver Coates.

'One Weird Trick' is out 7th November 2025 via Kit Records, available on vinyl & digital formats.

Kit Records will throw an album launch party at Servant Jazz Quarters in Dalston, London on 30th October 2025. Tickets TBC.









[g] 07: Time Split at the Seams of Your Departure (Everything Is Now Before and After) [feat. sir kay]

Chris Menist pares his sound right back for A book of imaginary beings, his fourth Awkward Corners outing with a project of electronic and abstracted global grooves. Experimenting with simple melodies and uncluttered arrangements, as well as taking inspiration from the Borges' short stories alluded to in the title, the project took shape in the early part of 2025, in the shorter days and dark evenings of January.

The initial challenge was to knock a basic track into shape each evening after work, then refine it later. There's a melancholy in the air in late winter, compounded by the creeping threat of national and geopolitical instability. Ulla, Natural Information Society, Jabu, Torso and Dawuna formed some of the background soundtrack as each tune took shape.

The track titles came after sitting with the sounds for a while, giving shape to images of people, creatures and their stories for a book that is yet to be written.

Two former friends sets the tone for the album perfectly as a minimal electronic piece with a slowly simmering synth bassline underpinning the groove whilst the trademark Awkward sound of the Shahi Baaja enters drenched in effects. It's the first demonstration of Chris' unique ability to create a world from apparently very little.

Dance of the silver beetles is completely unique in that we can hear chopped up Illimba samples seemingly playing backwards and forewords sometimes alone, sometimes together in duet with Chris' conga rhythms. Add to that a more conventional Illimba melody and added shaker percussion and you have one of A book of imaginary beings most curious chapters.

Anxious shadow puppets is closer to the Awkward Corners sound from previous albums as electronic pulses move around the arrangement with the urgency that the track title suggests. Chris' percussive roots move to the fore with the congas that tie down the Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band's sound. Here, the bassline is more playful and works together with one of Chris' many African Illimbas.

Fans of Chris' adventures on his Roland 808 will dig A leopard with no spots, although the minimal mood continues to flow through on this track. The lolloping, but hard-hitting rhythm track provides the grounding for strange and twisting feedback-sounding tones to work the soundscape.

Abandoned boy (left in charge of the family business) is Awkward Corners at his atmospheric best. Drift off to the sublime sounds of Chris exploring the Shahi Baaja, whilst a soft, repetitive synth line and abstracted pads give the listener that feeling of meditation and peace.

Flamingo with bandaged neck is A book of imaginary beings' perfect coda and is exclusively Shahi Baaja draped in reverbs and delays. It feels like the resolution and the closing of a book that – as of yet – remains unwritten.

Awkward Corners is Chris Menist, a musician, DJ and writer. It started life as a small project in Islamabad, where Chris was living at the time. Initial recordings were made with local musicians in Pakistan and then subsequently in Thailand. This culminated in the Sweet Decay LP that came out on Finders Keepers' Disposable Music in 2014, and in turn led to a limited tape release on Boomkat/Reel Torque of original compositions and re-edits of Thai 45s the same year. Chris released – Dislocation Songs – his second LP proper with Shapes of Rhythm in May 2020, collaborating on many of the tracks with award-winning performer Sarathy Korwar. The LP was picked up by many radio stations including NTS, Resonance FM, BBC 6 Music, Balamii and many more. It made Tom Ravenscroft's LPs of 2020. Amateur Dramatics, Chris' second LP arrived just a year later in 2021 and was a more ambitious project featuring more jazz-focussed compositions and featuring Tamar Osborn and Kitty Whitelaw. Shortly after that came another pivot with the heavier, dancefloor-friendly EP Somebody Somewhere. Somebody Somewhere is Dancing in a Field brought the House (yes House!) vibes, whilst Hector Plimmer turned in a remix of No Words in the same club mood.

As one of NTS Radio's longest-standing presenters, Chris continues to hold down the Paradise Bangkok show. Playing drums and percussion since he was a kid, Chris is the percussionist for The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band as well as co-founding the record label of the same name. Chris has curated compilations for labels such as Finders Keepers, Soundway and Dust-To-Digital. He has been featured on the Boiler Room, Vinyl Factory Collections, played at the Four Tet curated Nuits Sonores festival, and has put together an edition of Volumes which featured unreleased Awkward Corners compositions.






[d] 04: All the Goodbyes (You Tried to Defer) [Original]





[j] 10: Abandoned Boy (Left in Charge of the Family Business) [Original]

Backspin - the imprint launched by Regal as a love letter to early 2000s Hardgroove - welcomes techno titan Marco Bailey with the 'Drivetonik' EP: a powerful blend of past and present that pays homage to Hardgroove's golden era while keeping the focus firmly on today's dancefloors.

The EP opens with the title track 'Drivetonik', a brand-new production that sets the tone: raw, rolling and built to move bodies. A straight-up Hardgroove banger, it's Bailey at his most focused. All momentum, no compromise. What follows is a rare treat for longtime heads: three classic tracks, originally released on the legendary Primate Recordings, now freshly remasteredfor 2025. 'Hustler' brings the bounce with its infectious and instantly effective sound. 'Karma' leans into tribal rhythms and percussive layering, while 'Konverter' cuts through with synth stabs and vocal chops, offering a punchy, streamlined ride through early-2000s funk. To close things out, Swedish Hardgroove legend Hertz steps in to rework 'Konverter', injecting his signature style into a remix that's as crisp as it is driving, a perfect fusion of old-school grit and modern precision.

With each release, Backspin Records continues its mission to rediscover, revive, and redefine the foundations of 2000s groove-driven techno. With the 'Drivetonik' EP, Marco Bailey shows us why his legacy remains firmly embedded in the genre's foundation.

Four cuts of unapologetic, immediate Jungle that capture Tim Reaper’s frantic energy and Fracture’s deadly sonics — a perfect balance of aggression and detail. No holds barred, examined with a fine-tooth comb. Precision Pandemonium. Alongside the music, the collaboration extends to artwork, with each label’s iconic logo reimagined in the other’s style. This visual partnership spans the 12” label and sleeve design, as well as an extensive range of streetwear merch.

Fracture says:

I’ve known Ed for over 15 years, going back to the forum days of Subvert Central and Dogs On Acid. Even then, his approach to Jungle was authentic and compulsive. He’s stayed on that path with unwavering focus, never chasing trends—just pure, raw Jungle. What he’s built with Future Retro London is so desperately needed in this day and age: a space where music and community come first, shining a light on artists and DJs often overlooked by mainstream channels that favour gimmicks. His passion for Jungle is infectious, and I’ve always wanted to work with him so doing a full label collaboration feels completely right. Working with Ed is a real eye opener - he’s so full of ideas and the speed at which he can generate patterns is scary. Watching him fly around his laptop, chopping breaks and writing basslines is like watching a Grandmaster play speed chess—always on, never off. Shout out Tim Reaper each and every. An incredible DJ as well.

Tim Reaper says:

I think this is probably the longest ever I've spent on any release for Future Retro London, clocking in at just over 3 years of back & forth between me & Fracture in the making of this. There's a lot of backstory behind this project, so excuse my ramblings below.

The story starts with me hearing Sully playing a tune by Fracture called "Booyaka Style" which I really liked and thought would be great to release. I reached out to Fracture about it and found out later that he already made plans to include it on an album project (0860) that he was working on at the time which later came out on his label Astrophonica. He asked if I would be up for sending him any tunes to be considered for release on Astrophonica, but in response to this, I suggested a joint label project that both of us would have tunes on & he seemed keen to do it.
Few months later, I got back in touch to ask if he had done any tracks for this release but he was still busy with other things and instead sent me a track he had been working on, with the suggestion of us collaborating on it. We finished a track together that we both liked & felt as if it was a good starting point for the release. We then got a few more collabs done with a fair bit of back & forth, but upon reflection, he felt as if they could be a lot better than what they currently were and so, the release started to change in format a bit. Fracture suggested that we should meet up in his studio and work on some tunes together in person, with the aim of getting a few bits done over a bunch of sessions and getting it all sorted out in a much quicker timeline. Thankfully, this actually worked, we managed to get some collabs done that both of us are very happy with (even managing to sample a recording of Blackeye from a set from a Future Retro London event!)

Thanks to Fracture for his co-operation & perseverance with this release, helping to see it through to the end & not allowing it to be anything less than the best possible version of itself, thanks to Mark at Sequence for his role in helping with the logistics/manufacture of this release, thanks to Utile for assisting on the design on this release and most importantly, a very special thanks to all the obstacles along the way that I faced in the making of this release, which helped me appreciate getting to this point so much more than I ever could have!

With Until Night Comes, Larry June and Cardo reconnect to deliver a nocturnal cruise through laid-back luxury and introspection. The album feels like a slow ride through the city just after sunset—windows down, sky fading from gold to indigo, and a calm confidence guiding every turn. It’s Larry at his most self-assured and reflective, balancing the cool ease he’s known for with sharper focus and deeper pockets of honesty. Cardo’s production is smooth and expansive—built on warm basslines, polished synths, and sample chops that stretch like the dusk. Together, they create a cohesive soundtrack for night owls, hustlers, and anyone chasing peace in motion. The album continues to refine their seasoned partnership, evolving into something even more purposeful. No wasted energy, just clean living, big vision, and a reminder that progress doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Features include E-40, Black C, Don Toliver, Payroll Giovanni, HBK, Wiz Khalifa & Richie Rich. Good Job, Larry.

SHADOWY FIGMENTS OF UNRELENTING SONIC SEEKINGS
The magic lantern music of Razen spirals into ever more fanatic territory with the addition of turntablist Guilhem All from Brest. Vietnamese flute, oscillator, chopped-up vinyls and a range of
uncomfortable techniques bring about a series of sandblown, rock-encrusted desert mirages.
MORE INFO SOON
credits
releases October 15, 2025

Recorded by Mathieu Grillo, with assistant engineer Gaia Lufrano
Recorded at Echo Chamber in Volta, Molenbeek on March 4,5 & 6, 2025
Mixed by Mathieu Grillo, with assistant engineer Gaia Lufrano
Mastered by Frédéric Alstadt

Artwork: Aurora/ ChromaGrid drawing by Wilfried Pulinckx

Brecht Ameel: oscillator & harmonium
Kim Delcour: sáo trúc, fijfer, chalumeau, santur
Guilhem All: turntables

Thank you: Arne and Mich at Volta & AB

Docile is a reaction to the stimulus that is Detroit. The “my way e.p.” is a product of a turbulent time of readjustment. Made from Weathering confusion and standing strong. Docile refines a style of minimal that is authentic and independent from mainstream dogma. Docile belives in the vinyl record; a.garcia presses and checks every copy himself. Docile is, and will remain for itself.

"1 more day” builds a bed of unfocused synth for a healthy and life sick melody to nuzzle in. A heart felt tune of 4/4 simplicity grounded by an easy knock and an array of ticks. ”Hold up bro” a topsy turvy funk swing of chopped sound, voice and bassline escorted and overwhelmed by a mystic serenade of a synth. “Almost gone” assembles random sound into a soulful fragmented rhythm made steady by a poppy kick and stiff tick that breaks and stumbles into a dramatic melody. ”Detroit Rumble” struts tuff with a belligerent bassline and a menacing minimal kick that rattles and deforms chimes across a spartan and haunted landscape,

Peach Discs’ first EP of the post-summer season comes from DJ, producer, and our good pal Amaliah.

The five tracks that make up the Hypnosis EP are a true showcase of Amaliah's rapidly growing skills as a producer, as she picks thoughtfully from her inspirations and flips them into a uniquely Amaliah-coded record – leaning into the housier side of her sound while incorporating elements of bass, garage, UK funky, and prog that have become her calling card.

Lead track "Hypnosis" draws a line straight back to her early UK raving days, with tuff, speed-garage-indebted drums bouncing off prowling subs and emosh, pinging synth lines, while "Watch This" harnesses a similarly heaving bassline but dips towards classic UKG territory with its swinging, broken beat and disembodied vocal chops.

The closest thing to straight-up house on the EP, "Hold Me Closer," features Amaliah's vocals for the first time, as well as additional production from Shanti – an influence evident in the tight, ascending bassline that wraps itself around the stomping percussion.

"Laser Tag" and "Earthling" are maybe the most Amaliah-coded tracks on the record – a pair of highly percussive, UK funky inspired tunes that balance shoulder-bumping drums with wild, arcing synths that prowl across the stereo field, trippy and screwface inducing in equal measure.

Amaliah is also the founder of Borne Fruits, an independent label, event series, and monthly Rinse FM show, showcasing new sounds and emerging talent. This record follows neatly in that vein, as her own emerging talent marries forward-thinking sound design with her roots in raving and soundsystem culture for an EP that's all her own, and one we're thrilled to release.

The Complete Piano Etudes of Philip Glass available for the first time on vinyl, housed in a 4LP Box set (also available as a 2CD format).



After more than thirty years of working with and performing the great repertoire, the music of Philip Glass has, in a way, almost revolutionized my life as a musician,” confides Vanessa Wagner.

An emblematic artist on the French music scene, winner of a Victoire de la musique award and director of the Chambord and Giverny festivals, Vanessa Wagner is as inspired in her interpretation of Mozart, Debussy, Tchaikovsky and Dusapin as she is alongside Murcof and Rone.

With her innovative and daring approach, she has established herself as a major influence on the classical music landscape, crossing boundaries and blazing inspiring trails.

A tireless pioneer of new repertoires, she has been exploring the repertoire of minimalist composers for several years. For InFiné, she has dedicated 4 albums to the major figures of this movement, John Adams, Meredith Monk, Brian Eno, Ryūichi Sakamoto, as well as to the new generation Caroline Shaw, Bryce Dessner and Nico Muhly.

After giving numerous concerts based on these works, she felt the need to record in their entirety this essential monument in the history of music, which bridges the gap between the 20th and 21st centuries: Philip Glass's 20 Etudes for piano
by Philip Glass.
His approach helps to place these two books in the great repertoire, alongside the great cycles of studies by Ligeti, Debussy, Dusapin, and before them, Chopin and Liszt.

Philip Glass was born in 1937 and grew up in Baltimore. He studied at the University of Chicago, the Juilliard School and in Aspen with Darius Milhaud. Dissatisfied with much of what was then considered modern music, he moved to Europe, where he studied with the legendary pedagogue Nadia Boulanger (who also taught Aaron Copland, Virgil Thomson and Quincy Jones) and worked closely with sitar virtuoso and composer Ravi Shankar.

The thread linking Philip Glass to Vanessa Wagner may be as simple as a detail: a moment, a pedagogy, a way of looking at the piano. In Words Without Music, Glass recalls his apprenticeship with Nadia Boulanger in Paris - a lesson in rigorous received just as the Nouvelle Vague was about to shatter the conventions of cinema the conventions of cinema, just as the composers of the minimalist movement had done with with the language of music. Nurtured by Ravel and Debussy, the great French pedagogue disciplined yet inquisitive minds, capable of embracing modernity without denying modernity without denying their heritage.

DEVO’s Hardcore documents the group’s beginning as pre-punk outcasts in the fertile Akron, Ohio, underground rock scene. Spawned at the nearby college of Kent State, site of the infamous May 4 Massacre, DEVO formed as a conceptual art project armed with the radical philosophy of de-evolution. Brothers Mothersbaugh (Mark, Bob and Jim) and Brothers Casale (Jerry and Bob) along with drummer Alan Myers soon whipped up an otherworldly brand of “devolved blues” that could hold its own alongside the beatnik groove of 15-60-75 (a.k.a. The Numbers Band) or the primal rock poetry of The Bizarros. Recorded on various four-track machines and in tiny studios, basements and garages between 1974-1977, Hardcore reveals their strikingly clear vision: rock ’n’ roll stripped bare of its collective cool and jerked back into propaganda fit for post-modern man. It’s no surprise that these transmissions would soon catch the eye and ear of Brian Eno, who later produced their landmark 1978 debut album. Noisy synth, strangled guitar chops and a primitive rhythmic thud power the early DEVO sound. Threaded beneath it all are lyrical themes of post-McCarthy paranoia, middle-class ephemera and DEVO’s long-running topic of choice: sex, or lack thereof. Few moments in pop music history can match the grinding, pent-up energy of “Mongoloid” and the spastic bounce and sputter of “Jocko Homo” (two anthems presented in their earlier and superior versions here). Cult favorites like “Mechanical Man” and “Auto-Modown” make Volume 1 essential listening. Superior Viaduct and Booji Boy Records are proud to present DEVO’s Hardcore to a new generation of spuds, lovingly packaged with Moshe Brakha’s stunning cover photography. As David Bowie said in 1977, DEVO is indeed “the band of the future.”

Pioneering, uncompromising, yet frequent chart-stormer, sound designer/producer/performer Enrico Sangiuliano releases a remix EP of his seminal, startling ‘The Techno Code’. The techno manifesto dropped in April, also on his countdown imprint NINETOZERO, as part of VA EP ‘Discipline’, since when it’s won multiple plays and plaudits on dancefloors, radio and streaming platforms.

Remixes accompanying the original on the new digital EP are by Kevin de Vries & SLVR; Charlotte de Witte; Avalon & Tristan, plus a bonus DJ tool edit.

The Techno Code (Original Mix) is at once a spoken ‘how to’ of techno and a celebration of the genre, in portentous US tones reminiscent of 50s Atom bomb warning films and of Faithless’ ‘This is my church…’ as Sangiuliano builds the track according to ‘my rules – the Techno Code’ – the hi-hats, the main theme, the touch of acid…as the Voice narrates their effect on listener and raver.

‘The Techno Code (Kevin de Vries & SLVR Remix)’: starts slower, looser and stealthier, until fleshed out with ‘plucked string’ melody overlay, while a siren-like ultra-high note joins in. They’ve also darkened the bass elements while chopping, but maintaining the centrality and clarity of the spoken words.

‘The Techno Code (Charlotte de Witte’s Acid Code)’: adds hoover swoops, spacey stabs, and a brain-invading beeping backbeat. As per de Witte’s remix title, the ‘little acid’ of the original becomes a fizzing main theme. Reordering/cutting the words gives more emphasis to the ‘journey’ motif and builds on the ‘tension/anticipation’.

‘The Techno Code (Avalon & Tristan Remix)’ (Digital Exclusive): the spoken word is stripped back to a powerful intro and brief interjections, all processed with echo, robotic effects, distortion... and all about the anticipation - what you are about to hear, here it comes… The acid is raised to sulphuric levels by a pulsing tooth-tingling synth in a fast psy-trance ride.

Maurizio Pollinis Einspielung der Polonaisen, die inzwischen Klassikerstatus erreicht haben, sind nun als Teil der Original Source Serie erhältlich. Pollinis Spiel ist sowohl von herausragender Beherrschung als auch von subtiler Poesie geprägt. Seine höchste Leistung besteht darin, die Unmittelbarkeit einer inspirierten Improvisation zu suggerieren und gleichzeitig die formschöne Einheit eines vorgedachten Ganzen zu bewahren. Um eine optimale Audioqualität zu gewährleisten, wurde das Werk von den ursprünglichen 4-Spur-Bändern neu gemastert, in 45rpm geschnitten und auf zwei LPs verteilt.

Die audiophile Vinyl-Serie The Original Source präsentiert herausragende Aufnahmen der 1970er Jahre in ganz neuer Klangqualität. Dafür haben die renommierten Emil Berliner Studios die originalen Vier- und Achtspur-Bänder mit eigens für die Produktion der Serie entwickelten Technologien in 100% analoger Qualität (AAA) neu gemastert und geschnitten. Die klanglichen Unterschiede zu den Originalveröffentlichungen sind beträchtlich: Größere Klarheit, mehr Feinheiten und Verbesserungen im Frequenzgang, zugleich weniger Nebengeräusche, Verzerrungen und Komprimierungen ermöglichen ein audiophiles Hörerlebnis wie nie zuvor.

Auf 180g Vinylplatten und in einer Deluxe-Gatefold Edition mit Originalcovers und -texten werden die Exemplare dieser Serie limitiert und nummeriert veröffentlicht, begleitet von zusätzlichen Fotos und Faksimiles der Aufnahmeprotokolle und Bandkartons.

SEOUL, 9. November 2015 – Am Freitagmorgen stürmten Käufer in ganz Südkorea in die Plattenläden, um
das Debüt-Livealbum des nur 17 Tage zuvor preisgekrönten jungen Pianisten Seong-Jin Cho bei Deutsche
Grammophon zu kaufen. Die Geschäfte öffneten an diesem Tag früher, um der Nachfrage gerecht zu
werden, und nationale Fernsehteams filmten die beispiellosen Szenen.
Zehn Jahre später ist Cho ein Weltstar, der die großen Konzerthäuser rund um den Globus ausverkauft.
Doch sein Chopin Piano Competition Winners Album, mit dem der junge Koreaner über Nacht berühmt
wurde, gab es auf Vinyl bislang nur in Korea, und wurde dort nach dem ursprünglichen Release zum
gefragten Sammlerstück.
Zum zehnjährigen Jubiläum seines Sieges beim Chopin Klavierwettbewerb veröffentlicht Deutsche Grammophon nun erstmals eine internationale Version der LP, mit einem neuen audiophilen Half-Speed Master
aus den Emil Berliner Studios und einem neuem Artwork mit großer DG-Kartusche.

Pizzicato Five Tribute Album “The Only Way to Oppose War: Songs and Words of Pizzicato Five”Reggae Disco Rockers’ Cover of “Such A Beautiful Girl
Like You” Released on 7” Vinyl!

Immerse yourself in the soothing riddim of Reggae Disco Rockers’ exquisite lovers rock rendition.
This track blends tender feelings of first love with a bittersweet charm, wrapped in a gentle sound and melody that feels like whispered words of love on
a tropical beach.

With soft guitar chops and a deep bassline, the Japanese lyrics are simple yet nostalgic, resonating deeply with the listener. True to its title, “Such A Beautiful
Girl Like You” expresses heartfelt emotions directly, evoking memories of each listener’s own “you”a gem of a love song that gently embraces the heart.

Shortly following a double disk album from Humble B Flat on Pond Life Records, Humble B is launching an edits label. Kicking off proceedings is a dance floor, beauty of a three tracker. Opening with sped, chopped & layered beautiful gnawa track. Moving into a D inspired African cut. On the flip - a pool side cocktail sippin classic, Tell Me, dipping between sun filled sweetness & dark dubby goodness. A very exciting opening release - Vol 1 - for ‘Indigo Reels and Cuts’.

Igorrr ist das visionäre Projekt des französischen Multi-Instrumentalisten und Produzenten Gautier Serre, der seit zwanzig Jahren unter diesem Namen operiert. Seit der Unterzeichnung bei Metal Blade Records im Jahr 2017 hat sich Igorrr von einem Ein-Mann-Projekt zu einer vollständigen Bandidentität entwickelt, wobei Gautier als Mastermind und kreative Leitfigur fungiert.Das Projekt ist bekannt für seine kompromisslose Verschmelzung von Classical, Death Metal, Electronic und Breakcore - eine Musik, die sowohl von Bach und Chopin als auch von Cannibal Corpse, Aphex Twin und Meshuggah inspiriert ist. Mit jedem Album überrascht Igorrr selbst die treuesten Fans mit radikaler Vitalität und experimentellen Wendungen.Current Lineup:• Gautier Serre: Machines• Jb Le Bail: Vocals• Marthe Alexandre: Vocals• Remi Serafino: Drums• Martyn Clément: GuitarsAktiv seit: 2005Herkunft: FrankreichCHART-ERFOLGE & STREAMING-ZAHLEN• #12 Official German Album Charts (Spirituality & Distortion)• #57 Swiss Official Album Charts (Spirituality & Distortion)• US Billboard Charts: Multiple Top 10 Positionen• Über 74 Millionen Streams auf Spotify gesamt• 255.000 Follower auf Spotify• 28 Millionen Streams für "Spirituality & Distortion" alleinLIVE-PERFORMANCE & TOURNEEN• Massive Headlining-Tour in Europa (1.500-2.000 Kapazität)• Ausverkaufte US-Shows: Regent Theater LA (1.100), Irving Plaza NYC (1.110), The Crocodile Seattle (750)• Major Festival-Auftritte: Hellfest, Wacken, Download, Sweden Rock, Graspop, Nova Rock, Bloodstock• Weitere US-Shows für 2026 geplantSPECIAL FEATURES• Gastauftritte: Scott Ian (Anthrax), Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle), Mike Leon (Soulfly)• Echter Chor in Kirche aufgenommen für authentische AtmosphärePLAYLISTING-ERFOLGSpotify: All New Metal, Alternative Metal, Kickass Metal, New Music Friday (USA/UK)Apple Music: Avant-Garde Metal Essentials, Extreme Metal, Metal Rewind, Breaking MetalDeezer: Industrial, Metal Radar, French Metal

Igorrr ist das visionäre Projekt des französischen Multi-Instrumentalisten und Produzenten Gautier Serre, der seit zwanzig Jahren unter diesem Namen operiert. Seit der Unterzeichnung bei Metal Blade Records im Jahr 2017 hat sich Igorrr von einem Ein-Mann-Projekt zu einer vollständigen Bandidentität entwickelt, wobei Gautier als Mastermind und kreative Leitfigur fungiert.Das Projekt ist bekannt für seine kompromisslose Verschmelzung von Classical, Death Metal, Electronic und Breakcore - eine Musik, die sowohl von Bach und Chopin als auch von Cannibal Corpse, Aphex Twin und Meshuggah inspiriert ist. Mit jedem Album überrascht Igorrr selbst die treuesten Fans mit radikaler Vitalität und experimentellen Wendungen.Current Lineup:• Gautier Serre: Machines• Jb Le Bail: Vocals• Marthe Alexandre: Vocals• Remi Serafino: Drums• Martyn Clément: GuitarsAktiv seit: 2005Herkunft: FrankreichCHART-ERFOLGE & STREAMING-ZAHLEN• #12 Official German Album Charts (Spirituality & Distortion)• #57 Swiss Official Album Charts (Spirituality & Distortion)• US Billboard Charts: Multiple Top 10 Positionen• Über 74 Millionen Streams auf Spotify gesamt• 255.000 Follower auf Spotify• 28 Millionen Streams für "Spirituality & Distortion" alleinLIVE-PERFORMANCE & TOURNEEN• Massive Headlining-Tour in Europa (1.500-2.000 Kapazität)• Ausverkaufte US-Shows: Regent Theater LA (1.100), Irving Plaza NYC (1.110), The Crocodile Seattle (750)• Major Festival-Auftritte: Hellfest, Wacken, Download, Sweden Rock, Graspop, Nova Rock, Bloodstock• Weitere US-Shows für 2026 geplantSPECIAL FEATURES• Gastauftritte: Scott Ian (Anthrax), Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle), Mike Leon (Soulfly)• Echter Chor in Kirche aufgenommen für authentische AtmosphärePLAYLISTING-ERFOLGSpotify: All New Metal, Alternative Metal, Kickass Metal, New Music Friday (USA/UK)Apple Music: Avant-Garde Metal Essentials, Extreme Metal, Metal Rewind, Breaking MetalDeezer: Industrial, Metal Radar, French Metal

MoBlack Records brings together four deep-burning cuts, each sculpted for late-night floors and sunrise rituals alike. MERZZY & DJ RONY open with Walhala, a hypnotic ride that balances raw percussion with mythic tension. Belyi & Kirr follow with Good Karma, a rolling groove where warmth and restraint meet in perfect balance. On the flip, Giaggi’s Chopit sharpens the edge with fractured rhythms and a cosmic pull, before Deco (BE) closes the circle with Breathing—a deep exhale of layered synths and pulse-driven low end.

D Stone debuts on Heist Recordings with a record that shows us why he's one of the hottest talents in house music right now

Chloe Caillet is in on it. Cinthie is in on it. SG lewis and Demi Riquísimo are in on it too. So are Folamour, Barry Can't Swim and, of course, Dam Swindle. In on what exactly?

In on the fact that D Stone might be the most exciting young producer and DJ you will find in the house scene right now. Oh, and he's also a great guy who says Heist was his dream label to release on. When we found out we were fans of on each other, it was only logical that we signed his 'Time Selection' EP; A 5-track record that shows us how cool and catchy underground house music can be if it's done well.

D Stone, born Daan Steenhuizen has had a meteoric rise in the scene in the past years and has only just finished his study at the Conservatory, where Lars was one of his mentors. His vinyl debut was on Cecille in 2023 with that absolute anthem 'Total unison'. He then released on Cinthie's 803 Crystal Grooves in 2024 and has a busy 2025 with releases on Chloe Caillet's label Smiile, Semi Delicious, a release planned for Barry Can't Swim's fresh label 'Earth's only paradise' and now, Heist. He's been touring relentlessly in between, already playing legendary places like Ibiza's Pikes, Amsterdam's Shelter and with big shows planned at Warehouse project and in Australia, you can just feel all the right things happening for him.

The 'Time Selection' EP kicks off with 'Yes I Am', an upbeat house track with plenty of hints of the old school, playful vocal chops and above all, some lovely piano work. It's stripped back, but full of energy, with driving 909 percussion, retro flutes and a rolling bass line. It's as much a pallet cleanser in a set as it is a teasing mid-set highlight.

'Move Over' features the vocals of ELY and sees D Stone dive deeper into vintage house territory, with a classic bassline and percussion that stays true to the core of the classic drum machines, hinting as much towards the electro-pop sound of New Order and the futurism of early Mr. Fingers releases. The vocal is daring and cute at the same time, and does a great job tapping into the nostalgia of the pop-house cross-over songs of the early 90s.

'Time Selection' is arguably the heaviest cut of the record, much in style of his breakthrough track 'Total Unison'. This track is built around a strong piano theme, supported by driving 909 drums, strings and cleverly placed disco bleeps to keep the track accessible and uplifting. Add to that a big breakdown, and you'll understand why we've been reaching for this track peak set for the past months.

On the flip, we've got 'One Thing', a subtle and introverted track built around a bumpy disco bassline with a hook that's silly on first listen but will end up being the one thing you'll keep humming for the rest of the day. In short, it's a banger in disguise.

The last track of the EP is 'Everything from the Organ', a track where D Stone is not afraid to show his love for throwback ravey elements. There's organ licks, horns and chopped vocals that propel you straight to the front-left of whichever dancefloor D Stone is reigning at that moment.

Don't sleep on the Heist debut of one of Amsterdam's biggest talents, cause this one will go like hot cakes! As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Yours, Maarten & Lars

Plastik People Collections dropped this one back in 2019, and it became an instant classic that soon sold out. It has since rocketed in price on the second-hand markets, so thankfully, the label is reissuing it this summer. Cultured Pearls's 'Mother Earth' is effortlessly cool garage-house with bumpy drums and expressive piano jams perfect for outdoor dancing. Night Society's 'You Turn Me On' has an authentic US edge and hot and humid groove with passionate vocal cries, then JJ Can's 'I Don't Know Why' is a dubby and low-slung deep garage sound with chopped vocals and a timeless appeal. Three vital cuts that will be huge all over again this year.

Pickle Darling has always existed just outside of the periphery. In a heightened time of fast music, algorithmic consumption and rapid virality, Lukas Mayo (they/them) has remained focused on the album. Their discography is a reflection of their creative evolution, and they deliberately look for ways to push sonic boundaries from release to release. Since debuting with Bigness in 2019 followed by Cosmonaut in 2021, Mayo has curated a catalog that is deeply personal and strangely tactile, where tiny, unexpected details_an off-kilter loop, a whispered aside, the warmth of an old Casio_become as crucial as melody itself. Their 2023 LP Laundromat was a precise and polished expansion of that world, a record that felt like it had been carefully placed behind glass. Their forthcoming fourth album, Battlebots, by contrast, is unruly and full of static: a collection of songs that feel like they could only ever exist on scratched CD-Rs passed between friends. Self-recorded in their home studio in Christchurch, New Zealand, it finds Mayo taking a scalpel to their own songwriting. Songs were stretched, chopped, reversed. Some ideas started as "unlistenable garbage" before morphing into something unexpectedly beautiful. If a song felt too straightforward, Mayo had to mess it up. That friction of old and new, organic and digital, melody and noise is what drives Battlebots. Drawing inspiration from a strange, scattered lineage: Four Tet's Rounds, The Books, Neneh Cherry's Broken Politics, The Wrens' Three types of reading ambiguity, but also the emotional directness of 2000s pop like Madonna's Ray of Light and Robyn's Body Talk, the result is an album that feels like a glitch in the system, pushing against past constraints while embracing the weird, beautiful mess of making something new.

‘Two taches intertwine. An EP born out of Demi’s visit to Melbourne during his AU tour, and Luke’s easily accessible studio based above an inviting pub, naturally the vibes were high after a couple of schooners in the summer sun.’
Life & Death welcomes a standout collaboration from Demi Riquísimo and Luke Alessi with the release of their new EP ‘Yes Bby’ landing 29 August 2025. Setting themselves the brief of, “upbeat rollers and a little bit of naughtiness,” the two producers blend their sonic identities on this club-ready two tracker, formed of ‘Basement Trash’ and title track ‘Yes Bby’.
“Basement Trash was actually the first track we wrote. A funky, fun, hypnotic groover thatlocks you in on the d floor, made for those late nights (or early mornings) in the “basement” of a grungy club. For ‘Yes Bby’ we wanted something that worked on a bigger scale. We dialled up the French rave synths, bigger builds, more drive in the groove and added a cheeky classic vocal chop for the hook.”
– Demi Riquísimo & Luke Alessi

Known for his genre-blending productions and distinctive edits, Semi Delicious head honcho Demi has steadily carved out his space in the scene, a respected tastemaker and Ibiza mainstay, while Luke Alessi has continued to establish a global profile over the last 12 months with major European and US gigs, plus releases on Shall Not Fade, SMiiLE records and of course Life & Death, making this pairing a natural fit.
Already receiving support from the likes of Chloé Caillet, Call Super, Moxie and more, ‘Yes Bby’ marks an exciting moment in both artists’ trajectories. For Demi, this EP also serves as the first in a new chapter, one that places him at the centre of a more collaborative space, setting the tone for landmark projects to follow on his own imprint later this year.
As one of dance music’s most respected tastemakers, Life & Death continues to shape the global underground through its diverse output, with ‘Yes Bby’ slotting seamlessly into the label’s catalogue of playful, sexy and forward-thinking club music.

2024 Repress

The brilliant initial outing from Kerri Chandler on Large Music gets a re-issue and sounds just as fresh and influential as it did in 1995. Darker and more minimal than Kerri's output at the time on labels such as King Street and Freetown, this four track ep set the tone and sound of Large for most of the late 1990s. All four tracks feature the trademark Chandler bassline, jazzed-out trippy chords, and chopped up vocals. This is a timeless classic and a must have for any serious House vinyl connoisseur.

Released in 1989 by the noted audiophile label Chesky Records, Portraits is a testament to the prodigious talent of the legendary trumpeter, flugelhornist, and jazz educator Clark Terry.

The first of four albums for the Chesky label, Portraits was recorded when the St. Louis-born hornblower, then 68 years old, was a much-venerated jazz elder. By then, he had 35 albums under his belt and boasted a resume that included stellar collaborations with Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Quincy Jones, and Dizzy Gillespie.

For Portraits, produced by David Chesky, Terry assembled a quartet comprising pianist Don Friedman, bassist Victor Gaskin, and drummer Lewis Nash. With Terry alternating between flugelhorn and muted trumpet while also showing off his chops as an occasional vocalist, the quartet breezes through a blend of familiar jazz standards, like 'Pennies From Heaven,' and Terry's hard-driving original tune, 'Finger Filibuster,' where he shows off his athletic scat singing.

Other highlights include the Louis Armstrong favorite 'When It's Sleepy Time Down South' and 'Sugar Blues,' a nostalgic nod to New Orleans jazz. The album is reissued on 180g One Step Pressing Vinyl LP and SACD Hybrid Stereo.

Get ready to step back into the golden era of rave with "Hardcore Will Never Die," a high-octane EP that pays homage to the raw energy and unrelenting spirit of old-school breakbeat. This release is a love letter to the 90s – a time when dusty warehouse floors trembled under pounding kicks, chopped-up amen breaks, and speaker-shattering basslines.

From the opening track, you're thrown headfirst into a sonic storm of gritty samples, rave stabs, and relentless momentum. Each tune is soaked in nostalgia yet finely tuned for today’s floors, bridging the gap between classic hardcore aesthetics and modern production weight.

This isn’t just a revival – it’s a reminder. The underground never died. The breakbeat never faded. Hardcore will never die.

Expect dancefloor damage. Expect hands in the air. Expect the return of the rave.



>>> comes in different marbled colored 12 “ Vinyl and ONLY on Vinyl <<<

Dennis Quin is a Dutch talent who does it all from thumping tech to deep house on labels like Defected, Madhouse Records and PIV. He now steps up to the Slabs label run by Dungen Meat duo Brawther and Tristan Da Cunha with a swinging garage two-tracker. 'Farmette' has nice sleazy bass and drum combinations with razor-sharp hi-hats and rolling bass that never quits. 'Ode To Todd' has a more skippy rhythm but still keeps you locked with a fat low end. Some vocal chops and percolating synths bring further energy to this irresistible club cut. Another fine outing from Quin.

As they landed from their extended hovering adventure – a journey en(capsule)ated by twists, turns and various chops – the Fast At Work crew found themselves drawn to the idea of a new, singular sonic flow. Always on a noble mission for a future-forward vision of higher-deeper tempos, the crew realized that often the most meaningful iterations of their gospel can be found in the most inconspicuous places – “not even noticed,” some might say. Within these subtle crevices, a rising duo emerged to carry this torch (disc) forward into new, uncharted realms. Taking inspiration from “Eteus,” the god of light and knowledge, this duo expertly crafted four original offerings, all with a distinctive, minimalistic fusion of breaky, hopeful expansion. While the title contribution echoes a sermon of oozing bassline flows and siren signals, “Drip Advise” equally mesmerizes with its spiraling melodies and strong percussive foundation. On the disc’s flip, the anointed duo broadened and refined their journey via the acid-tinged bedrock of “Creamavity,” while the final offering “Anxious” ironically synthesized the full pilgrimage into a polished musical (and vocal) definition – “release yourself, into the unknown.” With the hope of sharing this glistening gospel far and wide, the mystical duo prescribed a set of two reshapes from enlightened phonic gurus in their own right. While Wisdom Teeth’s K-Lone opted for the always reliable essence of strong foundational grooves and deep airy textures, Maara (founder of the newly formed Ancient Records) crafted an oceanic odyssey – over 10 minutes of timeworn atmospherics and sensorial sensibilities.

Skkkrt! Step Ball Chain is officially running redlights and disregarding road rules with Anderson in the driver’s seat. The US born, Berlin based producer and deejay offers up Cut The Breaks, a 5 track EP bursting at the seams with ruff, tuff and techy freakouts, never neglecting the groove. Transcending genre, the low key king of the underground reaches into new realms sprinkling in electro, tech house and bouncy techno with a nod and a wink to hip hop.

Sleek & sexy; the opening title track is as fresh as it gets, a soldering of prize elements from different electronic ecosystems. Whiplash drums and vocal chops that weave their way through the record, also cropping and popping up on the B Side. Pedal to the metal for Giving it All and Visconti Bounce; playfully traversing dancefloors with tongue & cheek turboness and rhythmic exploration that will drive you wild. Smell the rubber burn for STEP15; let Anderson strap you in and take the wheel.

Sunshine and Balance Beams, das neunte Album von Pile, ist eine Sisyphus-Parabel über Arbeit und Leben. Um es zu schreiben, begab sich Sänger Rick Maguire an ,einen dunklen Ort" und rang mit dem Konzept, dass es keine Erleuchtung und kein Ende des Leidens gibt. Maguire erforscht den Workaholismus, den Mythos der Leistungsgesellschaft und die Akzeptanz der Sterblichkeit - und das alles in einer teuflischen Allegorie, in der es darum geht, durch einen schattigen Wald zu stapfen und dem ungewissen Traum einer hellen Lichtung entgegenzugehen. Pile ringt mit existenziellen und sozialen Widersprüchen, indem er klangliche Zwischenräume heraufbeschwört. Die Musik existiert irgendwo im temporären Gleichgewicht von Licht und Schatten, Chaos und Ordnung. Heiße, regenähnliche Gitarren, sich verschiebende Drums, die gewundene Wege in Klang und Tempo ebnen, unheimliche Synthesizer und wässrige Streicher fügen sich zu einem Panorama aus lauter und leiser Dynamik zusammen, das der Emotionalität der donnernden Auftritte der Band entspricht. Die Gruppe bevorzugte auch freilaufende Darbietungen, die das Erzählen von Geschichten belebten, während sie eine Streichergruppe (Geigen, Bratsche, Cello) engagierte, um glühende, durchkomponierte Arrangements zu spielen, die von der Cellistin Eden Rayz und Pile mitgeschrieben wurden. Sie ließen sich von Kino- und Opernpartituren von Chopin, Bernard Herrmann und Ralph Vaughan Williams inspirieren, was Sunshine einen überlebensgroßen Sound verleiht, der Piles blitzschnelle Umsetzungen einiger ihrer bisher zugänglichsten Songtexte noch verstärkt. Die Aufnahme ist ein deutlicher Sprung im Produktionswert und stellt Maguires Gesang auf neue und aufregende Weise in den Mittelpunkt. Pile reiste nach Pawtucket, RI, um zwei Wochen lang bei Machines with Magnets mit der langjährigen Tontechnikerin Miranda Serra (Kal Marks, Kira McSpice) aufzunehmen. Das Album wurde von Seth Manchester (Lightning Bolt, Mdou Moctar) gemischt und von Matt Colton (Aphex Twin, Swans, Muse) gemastert. Sunshine and Balance Beams ist das erste Album von Pile für das Chicagoer Label Sooper Records.