Buscar:dark stars

Over the course of eight studio albums, Mary Gauthier has firmly planted herself as a truth teller, a songwriter unafraid to dive into the emotional core of her chosen subject. Her poignant songs move people deeply and often evoke an emotive response. It is one of the many things that connect her so deeply to her fans, and why they love her. On Dark Enough To See The Stars, she mourns the loss of dear friends that include John Prine, Nancy Griffith and David Olney, but Gauthier takes a slightly different course by offering an optimistic side of herself with songs that celebrate the joy of new love and personal contentment. With The Band-inspired opening track “Fall Apart World”, the tender and thoughtful “About Time” and the eternally grateful “Thank God For You”, it’s evident that with Gauthier’s life experience she takes nothing for granted. She also looks at love from a different perspective in remembrance of her departed colleagues and mentors with songs such as “How Could You Be Gone” and “’Til I See You Again”. The title track, co-written with Beth Nielsen Chapman, is a realization that through loss and darkness there can be a beautiful sense of clarity and an understanding about what truly matters.

Music

Ever since the early 90s, The Mover has set the standard for apocalyptic melodramatic techno and has been praised as one of the leading artists of Planet Core Productions. His distinct tone and memorable production expertise, causes one to leave the world behind. In 2018 he returns with - Undetected Act From The Gloom Chamber', an album which implies all the goodness and fears he is renowned for. Eight masterpieces carrying the authentic excitement that you would expect from the Mover in a timeless fashion. Shifting between electro beats and classic old school techno patterns, the album sets a moody tone. The release is filled with magnificent bass lines and dark-dreamy pads that leave the mind in a trance. Muscular drums and authentic synth-lines paired with the unmistakable Mover signature, makes this assembly of gems an outstanding masterpiece.

2LP in gatefold with liner notes. 180gr vinyl. Download code included. A new, twenty-track compilation focussing on a twenty-year period (1950-1970) of modern jazz in the little kingdom, featuring the leading players from that era.

Due to the absence of its main players during the heydays of modern jazz, Belgium will not be remembered for a unique jazz sound or an extensive discography. However, the little country produced a number of highly talented musicians who played lead roles on the international jazz scene.
'Let's Get Swinging: Modern Jazz in Belgium 1950-1970' retraces their steps and presents some of their finest works, including guitarist Philip Catherine, saxophonist Jack Sels, multi-instrumentalist Jacques Pelzer and vibraphone player, percussionist and vocalist 'Fats' Sadi Lallemand.^

Electro, Breaks & SciFi-Disco! Dagobert's intergalactic fourth long-player on Dominance Electricity,
documents the transition from his former Electro-Breakbeat dominated productions to the genre-crossing
Electro variations of his new project MasterArp.

Covering works since his last release in 2011, the carefully selected songs on Startopology draw the listener
into Dagobert's cosmos of melodic and rhythmic playfulness somewhere between Electro, Breaks, Space-Disco
and Sci-Fi score music.

Electro, Breaks & SciFi-Disco! Dagoberts intergalaktischer vierter Longplayer auf Dominance Electricity
dokumentiert den Übergang seines bisher Electro-Breakbeat-dominierten Stils hin zu den verstärkt
Genre-mischenden Electro-Variationen seines neuen Projekts MasterArp.

Produziert seit seiner letzter Veröffentlichung im Jahr 2011, ziehen die für dieses Album sorgfältig
selektierten Werke den Zuhörer in Dagobert's Kosmos aus melodischer und rhythmischer
Verspieltheit irgendwo zwischen Electro, Breaks, Space-Disco und Sci-Fi Filmmusik.

Acclaimed harpist and songwriter Mikaela Davis’ new album, Graceland Way (due TK via Kill Rock Stars), builds an expansive, kaleidoscopic neo-western dystopia from the cozy origin point—that duality compounded by a subtle exploration of light and dark, grace and struggle, rose and thorn, as well as the mystical power found at their meeting points. The “canyon country” epic born of that work is indebted to the titular street in Chevy Chase Canyon where she recorded the album, the lineage of Laurel Canyon, the mythos of Elvis’s Graceland, and Paul Simon’s restless reinvention. “At the end of the journey, the place you were destined for all along isn’t even a place, it’s a state of mind: Graceland Way,” Davis says. Featuring an unreleased Cass McCombs track (Mizmoon) as well as contributions from Karley Hartzman (Wednesday), Tim Heidecker, Madison Cunningham, Neal Francis, James Felice (The Felice Brothers), Clay Finch (Mapache) & Hannah Read.

With their debut album "Invictus," Stairway To Violet open the door to a world where cinematic rock meets emotional storytelling, atmospheric sounds, and uncompromising honesty. The album is a cinematic experience—a soundtrack for life's darkest and brightest moments. In 13 intense songs (plus two exclusive piano versions), "Invictus" tells of inner struggles, abysses, ecstasies, and the courage to rise again even from the most fragile moments. The band combines epic soundscapes with modern rock-to-metal dynamics, powerful vocals, and an aesthetic depth that immediately resonates and gets under your skin. "Invictus" leads through drug-induced euphoria and psychedelic distortion ("Love Death & Pixiedust," "Come Spirit Come"), through destructive passion ("Paranoia," "My Heart's Cut Open"), and through the wild, raw primal force of humanity ("Animal," "It Thrills It Kills"). The song "Unholy War" bears its title because there is nothing sacred about war. "Parade Of Stars" leads deep into the universe amidst the sounds of the planets, to a humble search for the source. "Invictus" means "unconquered." The term represents the motivation to forge a new place in life and not be defined by past trauma.

Inside his quiet, neon-lit room after midnight, the night settles in shades of blue and violet. Screens glow softly, shelves sit lined with dormant consoles, and the outside world feels distant beyond dark windows and sleeping streets.

4 AM Chill Session is an invitation to watch the stars flicker with each spin of the vinyl. In the quiet hours of the night, let the blend of dreamy melodies and relaxed electronic rhythms pull you into a new dawn with this early-morning synthwave compilation. The nostalgic, intimate atmosphere of these 20 tracks will keep you grounded as the hours fade toward morning.



The physical edition is a visual extension of the music: pressed on double "Starry Night" splatter vinyl, the deep blue and sparkling white patterns mirror the celestial aesthetic of the 4 AM sky.

[a] A1 WYS x dreamẅalker Remix - Snowman [dreamẅalker Remix]

Kercha’s debut album ‘Open The Door’ arrives this April via DNO Records. The Black Sea artist’s mystical, disorienting style has set the tone for the label since he dropped the inaugural release six years ago. Now, across 16 tracks — including collabs with Mystic State, Congi, NST, Khromi and Finnoh — his smoky sampledelic dubstep is tighter, heavier, and more curious than ever, with a new sense of danger and bubbling rage that feels fit for our chaotic times.

Themes of movement and change course through the LP. On the opening gambit ‘A Path Into The Unknown’, twinkling arpeggios emerge from the gloom like stars lighting the way. Tracks like the eponymous ‘Open The Door’ and ‘Mind Extraction’ deliver that classic Kercha sound, where left-field samples dart in at right angles. ‘Dangerous Road’ weaves between the call and response action of grotty stabs and devilish subs. ‘Take A Break’, featuring Mystic State, goes on the attack with searing acid. ‘Can’t Wait For Today’, though lethargic in its pace, sees San Francisco-based rapper Finnoh deliver stream-of-consciousness bars that skewer our present and nudge us to revolution.

Work took place over the course of several years, during which Kercha relocated with his family from Russia to Georgia, where he now resides in the capital, Tbilisi. “Sometimes I wrote music while travelling on a bus, sometimes late at night while my family was asleep, sometimes just sitting on the grass in a park, and of course in my home studio as well,” he says. “By the time the album was finished, it included music from different periods, and it may vary in sound and concept.”

Any major upheaval in life will result in moments of hardship, but also hope. Both can be found throughout ‘Open The Door’. There’s times when the darkness threatens to envelope everything: during the cold, crackling ‘Disclosed’ and the eerie, dystopian ‘Infection Of Lies’; on ‘Trigger Activation’, with its grunting lows and broken glass hook, and ‘Ballistics’, where a wall of sub-bass is pierced by shrapnel stabs.

The balancing light comes on ‘4 AM’, featuring Nottingham duo Congi, when clashing swords and cinematic strings, meet a soft Rhodes piano — the juxtaposition between heavy low-end and floaty keys and vox reflecting those moments of transcendence often found in the early hours. From the injection of garage energy on ‘Bubs’, with Edinburgh’s Khromi. And on with ‘My Feeling’, featuring South Russian vocalist NST, which closes the album on a deep but expansive note, bookending the experience with more starlight synth tones.

“It’s a reflection of my life journey and the changes connected with emigration and overcoming various difficulties,” explains Kercha. “This period means a lot to me, which is why the album includes tracks from the time of preparing to leave up to adapting to a new country.”

Still, he wants listeners to be able to derive their own understanding. “I think the essence lies in the ability to contemplate, not in any predetermined meaning,” he says. “I can only say one thing: thank you for appreciating what I do and for your support. I hope it inspires you to make the same firm decisions to change for the better as it did for me.”

Out via 4 x 12” vinyl, ‘Open The Door’ is a captivating artistic statement, showcasing the journey of an artist with a truly original signature sound — a rarity that should be treasured and celebrated.

Rhythms of postmodern realism at the very bottom of the DNO.

Starting in 2021 the critically acclaimed Next Wave Acid Punx series has seen Luca Venezia, aka Curses, celebrate the music that has shaped both his life and career. Across the first two compilations Luca took us from theindustrial and post-punk sounds of the late 70s, through the emergence of EBM, new beat and freestyle in the 1980s and onto the music he both makes and plays himself in clubs today. Bringing the series to a close Next Wave Acid Punx TROIS sees the Berlin-based musician and DJ return full circle, this time exploring the sounds that first initiated him into Brooklyn's rave scene and the music that, in some way, continues to embody its eclectic spirit today.

Spread across three 2LPs and 3CDs Next Wave Acid Punx TROIS captures a moment whose influence can still be heard reverberating around clubland today. With the nascent rave scene obliterating boundaries, this was a moment where the darker, harder industrial electronic sounds of the mid 1980s were crashing headfirst into the ecstatic wave that was washing over clubland creating thrilling juxtapositions. Whether in the clubs and warehouses of New York, London, Frankfurt, Valencia and beyond, electronic music would never be the same again as countless new genres we take for granted today were born from the chaos and energy that had been unleashed.

Featuring 46 hard-to-find, new and exclusive tracks, Next Wave Acid Punx TROIS both documents that fertile period and shows how, despite rumours to the contrary, that early anarchic spirit can still be found today. From the Detroit Techno of Model 500 to Nitzer Ebb's EBM and the proto-Trance of Age of Love and onto brand new tracks from some of today's best producers such as Zaatar, Italo Deviance and Leona Jacewska, this compilation closes out a series that has to date revelled in exploring the darker corners of clubland in uplifting style.

This is Chapter 2.

2026 Repress

ANNE & SERA J return for the second edition of their Symbiosis series on Mutual Rytm.

ANNE, known for potent techno on the likes of Soma and Hardgroove, and Nechto and Life In Patterns associate Sera J, have had standout years that have seen them put out a stream of essential club tracks. They are partners in both life and music, and the first volume of 'Symbiosis' on SHDW's Mutual Rytm imprint was their first release together. Delivering an honest representation of their innermost feelings, having also contributed to the label's 'Federation Of Rytm III' VA in February, this new six-track EP (plus bonus cuts) presents a 'mature and refined connection between their souls'.

The second instalment of 'Symbiosis' reflects not only their deep personal connection, but also their collaborative synergy as musical peers with the same goals. The EP captures the essence of their mutual artistic journey and showcases the strength of their bond both in life and through their shared creative vision - to create a storyline through sounds coming from their souls and convey a narrative that many listeners may find relatable.

SERA J kicks off with the lithe and melodically elegant techno of 'Your Soul Is Art' which will have both heart and heels dancing. 'Illusions' is a more heavy and dubby cut with paired back grooves and pulsing synths, while 'Glacial Pace' is an urgent deep techno roller with turbocharged stabs and huge icy hi hats locking you into a trance.

ANNE steps up on the B-side with 'Floating Waves' exploring physical, chunky drum funk and raw synth textures. 'Planetary Dust' is a dark and moody astral techno journey to the stars, before 'Sweet Seventeen' brings a more melodic cut with a sense of hope and joy in the bright pads that shimmer above the glitchy grooves.

Both artists also offer two digital bonus cuts with SERA J's 'Syncrosonix' and 'Space Velocity' delivering perfectly reduced minimal techno monsters, while ANNE's 'Gentle Loop' and 'Starburst' are interplanetary trips with widescreen cosmic synths.

Featuring members from King Diamond, Motörhead, Scorpions, Don Dokken Lex Legion is a brand-new band comprised of old friends with incredible heavy metal pedigree. Comprising four-fifths of the classic late 80s King Diamond lineup featuring Mikkey Dee (Drums), Pete Blakk (Guitars), Andy La Rocque (Guitars) and Hal Patino (Bass) infused with the jaw-dropping vocals of Nils K. Rue (Pagan’s Mind), it also boasts Motörhead, Scorpions, and Death on its collective resume. Lex Legion’s eponymous debut album is a single-minded, future-facing throwback of world class hard rock/metal distinguished by tasteful, less-is-more arrangements, virtuoso musicianship, and relentless melody and harmony.

Featuring members from King Diamond, Motörhead, Scorpions, Don Dokken Lex Legion is a brand-new band comprised of old friends with incredible heavy metal pedigree. Comprising four-fifths of the classic late 80s King Diamond lineup featuring Mikkey Dee (Drums), Pete Blakk (Guitars), Andy La Rocque (Guitars) and Hal Patino (Bass) infused with the jaw-dropping vocals of Nils K. Rue (Pagan’s Mind), it also boasts Motörhead, Scorpions, and Death on its collective resume. Lex Legion’s eponymous debut album is a single-minded, future-facing throwback of world class hard rock/metal distinguished by tasteful, less-is-more arrangements, virtuoso musicianship, and relentless melody and harmony.

Fiat Lux return with Desire & Belief, their third album of new material this millennium, following their acclaimed comeback LPs Saved Symmetry and Twisted Culture. The trio—Steve Wright, Will Howard, and David P Crickmore—combine modern production with vintage synths and instruments rooted in their Polydor-era beginnings to craft ten tracks that span cinematic atmospheres, synth-pop anthems, and moody electronica. Tracks like "Clear Sky " and "Turn Me Around" offer hook-laden synth-pop, while "Summer Solstice " and "Am I Dreaming " delve into ambient and darker tones. Desire & Belief is a natural progression for Fiat Lux—retaining the spirit of their 1980s Northern roots in synth, goth, and indie, yet confidently stepping into new sonic territory for long-time fans and new listeners alike. RIYL: Blancmange, OMD, Scary Thieves, Tears For Fears

Straight from the depths of techno, Lewis Fautzi delivers an intense EP where each track pulls you deeper into a raw, immersive soundscape.

Featuring five tracks that explore deep textures, driving rhythms, and dark atmospheres, "Ghosts Don't Text Me" reinforces his unmistakable signature style.

5 tracks. 1 identity. Pure energy from start to finish.

In discotheques and dark rooms across Europe, Boys’ Shorts have earned the trust of the queer and wider clubbing communities as generous stewards of a timeless sound that, like themselves, never stops moving forward. The duo of Vangelis and Tareq initially met at an underground club in their native Greece. Sensing a rare sonic connection, the pair became friends, forming Boys’ Shorts to meet again and again, travelling from their adopted cities of Thessaloniki and London to appear as far afield as Berlin’s Panorama Bar and New York’s Le Bain, as well as supporting Goldfrapp and Hot Chip on tour. Their motivation? In their own words, “we make people dance!”

Following years of gradual, thoughtful studio sessions, and EP releases on tastemaking electronic labels including Phantasy Sound and Live At Robert Johnson, Boys’ Shorts establish their own imprint, ALL SORTS, in order to deliver a fantastically ambitious debut album, ‘What Does It Take To Make These Men Happy?’

The LP opens with the grandiose, cosmic vista of ‘The Space Between Us’, a classic passage of strings and synthesis, before the shared Boys’ Shorts vision falls back to earthier territory with deep groove of ‘Let’s Fall In Love’, mixing universal sentiment with a patient vision of human potential and the voice of Greek electronic pioneer, K.BHTA. ‘Come’ aligns with NYC’s Michael Cignarale, offering an excitable invitation to the mind and body sculpted by the way of a throbbing, warehouse-sized statement of nineties house sensuality. Channeling heroes Lowe and Tennant at their most introspective, ‘Short Life’ maintains the dance, yet dares to ask, “what if the parties aren’t enough anymore… Can you ask for something more?”

Out of the pet shop and straight into the strobe lights, ‘Disco Romantica’ makes true on the promise of its title, a lovelorn monologue giving way and slipping into rave stabs and whirring synthesis that looks forward to a memorable, emotionally-charged night ahead. Underpinning this feeling of anticipation, ‘Going Out Hoping To See You’ introduces the voice of Justin Strauss to Boys’ Shorts' musical world. A certified icon of club culture, spinning from The Mudd Club to modern day DJ booths, Strauss’s generation spanning experience of nightlife leans into the fundamentals of human connection and the pleasure of musical discovery, wrapped in irresistible chug.

Another transformative figure in club music, Fischerspooner’s own Casey Spooner dips into French for the Motorik cyber sleaze of ‘MECANIMAUX’, their own vocals pitching up and down with playful EBM abandon. ‘Montage’ offers a different kind of composition, conjuring an ecstatic club banger that finds inspiration in nineties indie rock motifs alongside the rave scene, while ‘Run’ promises to blow out sound systems before its weighty electro bassline succumbs to waves of glistening synths.

Such bombast into beauty perfectly sets up the record’s blissful conclusion; ‘The Stars Are Out For You’ is electro-pop so delicate as to heal aching feet (and mend broken hearts), while offering the final tender moments of the album as a form of tribute on ‘Untitled (For Mitsi)’. It’s a thoughtful ending to a thrilling trip through a shared passion for electronic and pop music in all its glorious potential. What does it take to make these men happy? It’s a pleasure to find out.

Increasingly essential US artist Ben Hixon drops sublime deep house EP on Kai Alce's faultless NDATL Muzik. The six classy tracks will appeal to those who appreciate the subtleties of the classic Midwestern sound.

Ben is a Texas-born, but Brooklyn-based artist who has become a firm favourite of true deep house heads in the last year or so. He has put out several EPs on Dolfin, all of which find a perfect sweet spot between immersive atmospheres and late-night drive. Dusty analogue textures and frayed edges define his drums, while the subtle details are intelligent and add effortless emotion. He is a perfect fit for NDATL Muzik, the Atlanta label that has long been a flagbearer for well-crafted house grooves like these.

'Taping' kicks off with heavy kicks that swing under gentle chords that are perfect for after dark. There's a persuasive bump in the beats that will get early evening dancers primed and ready for more. Next up we have 'Y Do U Get So Nervous' - a mastery of sampling with nagging vocal hooks, cascading piano keys and wet finger clicks all adding soul to another low-key but all-consuming groove. 'Area Code 336 Phone Rings' is a higgledy-piggledy tapestry of toms and stuttering kicks with vocal fragments to match - the thrill is the looseness of it all. The smouldering and meandering 'December Blackout' is for gazing off it into the distance at the busy yet muted jazz keys that twinkle like faraway stars. 'It's Like A Vision' picks up the pace with more closely stacked kicks but still oodles of cuddly warmth and smudged synth work, before '0823' ends with a decidedly heavy feel - spare, lump drums unfurl beneath forlorn synths that feel utterly bruised and heartbroken.

Ben Hixon's deft artistry makes these quiet, texture tunes irresistibly danceable yet emotionally profound.

It’s True What They Say is the debut EP from Edinburgh-based, husband-and-wife duo Sarah/Shaun (pronounced simply Sarah Shaun), aka Sarah and Shaun McLachlan (pronounced “McLochlin”).

“Sarah and I both have a love for nostalgia,” explains Shaun. “We watched that amazing old 80’s Sci-Fi, (John) Carpenter movie, Starman, a few months back. Myself and my brother David used to watch it all the time. We must have been, roughly, 5-7 at the time. I remember loving the movie but the end, you know, with the beautiful, atmospheric, synth ending, I love that particular moment the most - best part of the movie, you know, when he goes home… It’s heartbreaking but stunning, all the same. It’s the music that moves you most… It did when I was 5 and it still does to this day. It must have had some form of a (much deeper) impact on me.”

The duo narrates stories across themes of love, hope, family, friends, dreams and sadness - the good that comes with the bad in everyday life, not just on a personal scale but within a community as well.

“Starbed is the first song I have ever written and just came out of the blue really, with Shaun playing a melody and me singing along,” says Sarah. “It’s simple and just about two people in love. Love songs are always the best songs, after all… Music has been a big part of my life from a young age. I was unwillingly dragged to piano and violin lessons, which I’m thankful for now! I’d say the first band I really became obsessed with growing up were the Beatles, and on the back of that a lot of 60s music and fashion. From then on, I had a love for music.”

“Shaun definitely opened my ears to a lot of sounds and got me thinking about soundtracks and all the noises that can be made,” she goes on. “We love just spending time experimenting in the house with instruments, pedals etc and Ali is a real magician to work with, too…”

The recordings took place over the summers of 2022 and 2023, with fellow Delta Mainline member Ali Chisholm (aka Jaguar Eyes) plus long-term friend and collaborator Gavin King. Further collaboration then came via the ‘net from the (international) likes of Chris Dixie Darley (Father John Misty), Darren Coghill (Neon Waltz) and Daniel Land (The Modern Painters), among others (see a full list of credits below).

Both Sarah and Shaun have a love for uber-soundtrack producers such as Hanz Zimmer, Max Richter, Cliff Martinez plus live acts such as Beach House, Spiritualized, M83, Suicide, Moby and OMD (to name a few). Shaun also credits the work of Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein (from Survive) on the Stranger Things score… “Even a moment in a movie, whether it be just 30 seconds during a particular scene, it grips you,” he says. But there’s something much deeper at play as well. “Music is a healer,” he goes on, “and I write from my own perspective but more so for others. Once I've done my bit, it doesn't belong to me any longer. It belongs to whoever wants it or needs it.”

The result is a cinematic, synth-wavey, dream poppy and downright beguilingly beautiful body of work. And they’re just getting started…

REVIEWS/RADIO/FEEDBACK:

“Starbed is folky, flavoured by pedal steel, cello, and brass. Dust Tears, in stark contrast, is a mini synth-pop rave epic. Part Bicep. Part Human League. Keep Your Eyes Closed summons a mood that’s romantic, but also dark and potentially doomed – like David Lynch’s Twin Peaks meets Cliff Martinez’s Drive score. My pick though is It’s True What They Say, whose interwoven jangle and picking recalls New Order’s more introspective moments (Love Vigilantes, Love Less… ). Drums crashing, cathartic. Guitar raising dramatic arcs. Its chorus a rush, like a reprise of Pains Of Being Pure Of Heart’s ‘Higher Than The Stars’.” BAN BAN TON TON
"Dust Tears sees them sharing vocal duties over a synth foundation reminiscent of Moby’s Go - Artist Of The Week” THE SCOTSMAN
"Woozy pop" NEMONE (Mary Anne Hobbs Morning Show, BBC 6Music)
"Nice one, very David Lynch meets Euro dream pop" YOUTH (Killing Joke, Paul McCartney, U2, The Orb, Spiritualized etc)
"Music sounds killer! Real emotion” DAVID HOLMES
"I’m enjoying it” TIM BRINKHURST aka LONDON (IKLAN, Young Fathers, Callum Easter)
“Oh, this is lovely!” SEAN JOHNSTON (A Love From Outer Space)
"It’s totally my cup of tea with milk and biscuit" BRENT RADEMAKER (Beachwood Sparks/GospelBeach)
"Beautiful, ecstatic electronica! Short and to the point" KEVIN BALES (Spiritualized, Julian Cope, Soulsavers, BE)
"Makes me wanna sit in the sun and sip an Arnold Palmer" CHRIS DIXIE DARLEY (Father John Misty)
“Really beautiful - Cocteau Twins / Spiritualized vibes but has its own thing going on, too - worth checking out!” JULIAN CORRIE (Franz Ferdinand, Miaoux Miaoux)
‘Sounded nice on a sunny day, makes me think of Twin Peaks, nice moods’ EAMON HAMILTON (Sea Power)
"Dealing in nostalgia, no bad thing at all, great to play that (Dust Tears) for you” RODDY HART (BBC Radio Scotland)
“I'll give the vocal tracks a spin before the release." VIC GALLOWAY (BBC Radio Scotland)
"Rather good!" IAIN ANDERSON (BBC Radio Scotland)

CREDITS:

Lyrics, Guitars, Keys, Synths, Drums, Drum Programming, Percussion, Mandolin, Glockenspiel: Shaun McLachlan
Lyrics, Vocals, Keys by Sarah McLachlan
Guitars, Synths, String Arrangements, Drum Programming, Engineering: Jaguar Eyes Percussion/Drums/Effects, Fire Extinguisher: Darren Coghill (Neon Waltz)
Guitars by Daniel Land
Slide Guitar by Chris Dixie Darley (Father John Misty)
Brass by Bruce Michie
Keys, pre-production & engineering on “It’s true what they say”: Gavin King
All produced by Jaguar Eyes and Shaun McLachlan and then mixed at Glasgow’s Chem19 Studios by David McCaulay (From Scotland With Love, Rick Redbeard, BBC TV’s Attenborough and The Mammoth Graveyard score).
Artwork: Jamie Walman (Fourteen Admirals)

MORE INFO:

Although Shaun released a pair of solo singles (When We Dance and Give Your Love To Me) during Lockdown, he will be better known to many via his work as the multi-instrumentalist in Edinburgh band Delta Mainline. With two albums released to date, Oh! Enlightened and Bel Avenir, both rapturously received by fans and critics alike, Delta Mainline have developed an international, cult following. Oh Enlightened (2013) achieved widespread critical acclaim on release, earning the band comparisons to Arcade Fire and Echo & The Bunnymen, while 2019’s Bel Avenir pulled in references to The Flaming Lips, Pink Floyd, David Bowie and krautrock. A third DM album is currently being mixed and due for release later this year…

Restock

Collateral Intelligence's Butterflies in Funerals is widescreen, sometimes dark, often hopeful electronica with one eye on the stars, but grounded in the sheer cathartic necessity of its creation.

The new moniker from Maltese wunderkind Neil "Acidulant" Hales, the album was formed during a turbulent period in the artist's life, when his father was seriously ill in hospital. Butterflies in Funerals is his way of expressing the complexity of emotion he was going through at the time.

"To me it all looked like a very dark movie," he says. "That's why the tracks are are at times cold or have a sad, emotional, or hopeful feeling."

Drawing on his impressive background in acid house and electro – with releases on Balkan Vinyl and Jack Trax – the album takes in mutant breakbeat, battle-scarred ambient, and tripped out 303 grooves, but pushes his sound further and deeper than ever before.

The album cover features specially designed artwork by rising star Fei Meng, who will be exhibiting at the Royal Society of British Artists later this year.

So in 2021 join Collateral Intelligence on a journey into the recesses of the soul, and emerge, purified, and ready for the rest of the trip.

2026 Repress

An anthology born out of isolation and deep introspection, Sky Dust Drifter is a cosmic medley of sun-soaked AOR, psychedelic folk, and soft rock. This soundtrack was driven by the lonesome cowboy, a lockdown savior leaving me adrift in desert winds and dimly lit country bars.

Long-distance trades and masked meetups yielded a collection of private press LPs and 45s from ten different artists spanning 1973 to 1980. This seemingly random stack of records revealed songs living entangled in themes of hard luck, heartache, and the inevitable loneliness of existence. Adorned in cracked leather and chrome, this album is an aimless wander from the soil to the stars.

Featuring an unreleased English version of the compilation’s title track “Sky Dust Drifter” (originally released only in Hebrew), the record shifts from laconic afterthoughts to bold proclamations. From Michael Andrews’ blue-eyed soul assertion “Something Bad’s Better Than Nothin’,” to the searing electric guitars and bold synths of Sunburst’s “Special Lady,” Sky Dust Drifter thrives on solitude in a universe of unconditional self-rule where loneliness is not darkness but rather a blazing light of autonomy.

2026 Repress

The long-awaited sequel to Ophidian's cult classic Blackbox (2003) arrives: "Blackbox: Kasamaan" picks up where the original left off, and strays further into the darkness.
Expect Industrial Hardcore and Hard Techno with grinding, distorted kicks, warped percussion, detailed rhythms and intricate sound design, all while being cloaked in haunting, eerie atmospheres.

Martin Blix is BLIXX86 and his entire catalogue so far dropped back in 2021 as part of a self related run of singles. Now the lead single 'Pull The Trigger' from the last of those EPs is revisited with some new remixes. The first new version is a dark, chugging Italo cut with twinkling synth stars and gritty bass. 'Italoconnection remix 2' has a happier outlook with rueful synths hovering above the lighter low end. There's also an AP mono remix that brings a deadpan 80s vocal and taps into the synth wave sounds of that era before a Gianni Durante instrumental closes out with the tightest and most retro future Italo vibes of the lot.

Astropolis Records, the label born from the legendary Brest festival, marks a decade of electronic passion with a sprawling, heartfelt anniversary compilation — slightly delayed, but still delivered with flair.
It comes in two EPs, spotlighting the many facets of the Astropolis universe: in-house artists, long-time festival collaborators, and rising stars from France’s ever-bubbling scene. Eighteen artists guide us through a sonic journey where rave heritage, electronic dreamscapes, and collective fervor converge — true to a festival whose DNA has never recognized borders.


The second EP dives into darker territories, spanning original electro, multifaceted techno, and sunlit vibes toward the close.
Astropolis has always thrived on happy collisions, and this EP is a perfect demonstration.


For synth lovers, Legowelt & Cuften revive the spirit of early electroclash on Liar, a carnal fusion of analog synths and DIY attitude.
Zaatar & Trunkline inject raw energy on Come Into The Light, a sweaty, visceral banger bridging techno, dark disco, and EBM.
French scene stalwarts Scan X & Electric Rescue deliver a masterclass in elegant techno on Lost In Time.


When Manu Le Malin meets Kmyle, the result is as sharp as it is cinematic: Little Big Man builds dramatic tension, balancing raw emotion with contained fury.


On a more contemplative note, we’re thrilled to unveil one of the first productions from our dear Célélé with Théo Muller: the subtle Drum and Drift, threaded with dubby vibrations and sun-drenched bursts.
This anniversary compilation reaffirms the label’s openness to new generations and recent sonic hybrids while honoring the techno scene that shaped its beginnings. Like the festival itself, it embodies the same sincerity and collective energy: a small manifesto connecting generations, aesthetics, and territories — celebrating roots without nostalgia, and the future without bending to trends.

SUBURBAN BASE RECORDS PRESENTS BOOGIE TIMES TRIBE – ‘THE DARK STRANGER’ – REMIXES

The Dark Stranger by Boogie Times Tribes is one of the most iconic anthems from the evolution of Drum & Bass. The Dark Stranger now returns for Halloween 2025, with an incredible new double-vinyl package featuring brand new remixes alongside long-lost classics. Pressed on a stunning glow-in-the-dark vinyl and housed in a specially illustrated sleeve depicting the mysterious Dark Stranger character, this release is as collectible as it is powerful.

The package contains eight mixes of this legendary track, cut loud for maximum DJ impact with just two tracks per side to ensure the heaviest playback. Brand new 2025 remixes come courtesy of Crissy Criss (mixed and mastered by TC), Marvellous Cain & DJ Choppah, Metrodome & Sl8r, Exile & Mark XTC, AKAS, and Freeze UK, all reimagining the anthem for today’s dancefloors.

To complete the set, the original 1993 remixes from QBass and the classic Origin Unknown Part 2 Remix are included, both made available here for the very first time since their original release in 1993, having never been repressed or released digitally until now.

This release is already generating massive buzz across the scene. At the recent D&B All Stars event, Andy C dropped the Crissy Criss remix, sparking the only rewind of his epic set. Other versions are already receiving huge support on Kool FM, Rinse, Pure FM, and across clubs and festivals nationwide.

A true piece of legendary Drum & Bass history reborn, The Dark Stranger returns this Halloween 2025! A must-have for DJs, collectors, and D&B fans worldwide.

Wally Badarou is a synth pioneer and musical polymath. But rarely does he sing over his sumptuous tracks. The 6 songs that comprise new record Simple Things finally realise Wally's vision for select backing tracks from his beloved Colors Of Silence.

The tracks were originally developed back in 2001 for the release of the original CD; here, Wally has “simply" added overdubs and vocals to their mastered mixes with some discerning edits. Simply put, Simple Things is another slice of simply stunning Wally Badarou genius.

Simple Things has been decades in the making. Indeed, Wally struggled not only with the idea of singing these wonderful songs himself but singing them in English and writing his own lyrics, while wrestling with the sensational backing tracks, which themselves seemed to have taken on a life of their own.

As Wally explained to us: "In addition to the instrumental artist I have been known as, so far, there has always been a singer who simply was not sure he was, up until now. Even though “Back To Scales Tonight”, my very first album, was, indeed, a song album."

Opener "It Couldn't Be You" embellishes the uptempo groove of soca-funk gem "The Lights Of Kinshasa". As Wally explained to us, it's about “a simple love story somewhere, one rainy night, under the lights of Kinshasa. A woman, a man, online dating, quite usual in our times. Then they meet, almost missing each other." The guide vocal Wally had laid for Colors Of Silence - with an organ sound - seemed striving for words in Linguala, a Congolese language he could not speak. Therefore the decision to do it himself was not an easy one, for it had to be in English to fit his singing. We think it turned out pretty good!

"You Can't Hide Always" vocalises Wally's deep concerns set to the propulsive "Smiles By The Millions": "Populism, ostracism, radicalism, ethics and values all turned upside down worldwide, are they all inevitably exacerbated by our social networks? It could all melt down one day, like a house of cards in the ocean of fake news and false prophecies”. Wally wanted to keep the track as bare as possible but, inevitably, the backing vocals and the synth-brass arrive ultimately to present a welcome 70s flavour, with no snare-drum added.

The bright and breezy "We'll Make It Again" adds vocals to "Where Were We", a tropical, reggae-tinged bounce through the islands. Here's Waly: "Where were we when we last said: "I love you"? Simple words to express something quite common, but never quite simple to deal with. A simple song about the resilience of the broken hearts.” The reggae came from it being conceived when Wally was scoring for “Third World Cop”, a 1999 Jamaican action movie.

"Walk Straight Ahead" provides Wally's gorgeous, contemplative and idiosyncratic vocals to the deep serenity of Colors Of Silence highlight, "Amber Whispers". It's a gliding, divine, mini melodic masterpiece. It'll make you swoon in its extreme beauty. As Wally describes, "it started as just whispers, sweet amber whispers. Then the colour turned darker, as darker skies seemed to fall upon us while the whole world keeps on walking ahead, straight ahead, regardless of the blatant warnings, feeling much too comfortable in conformity. Initially, the verses were to be spoken only. I realised they could be sung all the while, without overshadowing the ethereal atmosphere." Amen.

The serene, celestial "Painting My Life Blue" presents the vocal version of "Days To Wonder". Says Wally, "how does it feel when your second half is gone after decades of riding life together? Past the temporary loss of your bearings, you come to realise you've been blind to the essential, and suddenly you can see...For this most intimate song of mine, I had tried to come up with a melody on top of the existing backing track, long before realising the melody was in the keyboard part already. It just needed to be properly mixed with it."

The profoundly emotional "Just Two Lovers" works up the formerly-too-brief and glorious "Crystal Falls" into a much fuller masterpiece and features acoustic guitar sparkle before fully glistening with some gentle head-nod percussion. Waly explains further: "Dear little green men, please tell me, what is it about us that makes you want to come and visit us so often (contrary to Fermi's assertion)? And here is the reply I believe I heard them sing: "You've got the key you've been searching for: Love”. I reverted to the initial backing track I had made around 1985, which already bore the melody, and which I added acoustic guitars to, before singing it." An astounding closer.

A synth specialist, there can be few artists more under-appreciated given their vast influence than Wally Badarou. His solo work practically defined the sound of the Balearic DJs of the 1980s, and thus the more sophisticated sound of dance culture thereafter. He was one of the Compass Point All Stars (with Sly and Robbie, Barry Reynolds, Mikey Chung and Uziah "Sticky" Thompson), the in-house recording team of Compass Point Studios responsible for a series of albums in the 1980s recorded by Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club, Mick Jagger, Black Uhuru, Gwen Guthrie, Jimmy Cliff and Gregory Isaacs. Badarou's keyboard playing could also be heard on albums by Robert Palmer, Marianne Faithfull, Herbie Hancock, M (Pop Muzik), Talking Heads, Manu Dibango and Miriam Makeba. He also produced Fela Kuti. Phew!

When we asked Wally about the significance of this collection's title, he explained: "These are "Simple things” that everyday’s life seems to build upon. The simplest are the harder to describe, but when satisfactorily described i.e. with simple words, they are the more genuine and authentic to express and share. I’ve immersed myself in other classic song lyrics, something I hardly did before, just to appreciate the genius behind the simple words they were made of, and had a great time studying how powerful they were in expressing complex ideas such as love."

Recording was twofold: first, most of the backing tracks were recorded in 2001, in Wally's studio in Normandy, mostly using hardware synths and Yamaha digital consoles. Then, he fine-tuned the melodies and wrote the lyrics in late 2023, then added some overdubs and sang them all during summer 2024. States Wally, "Digital Performer was and remains the DAW I’ve been using throughout, ever since the 80s."

Wally's sophisticated synth textures and expressive keyboard runs are so full of character, so full of life, that this work of art transcends any easy genre categorisation. Meticulously remastered and cut by both Simon Francis and Cicely Balston respectively, it has been pressed to the highest possibly quality at Record Industry in Holland. Sometimes, the simple things are the most extraordinary.

Compounding a reputation for his unique vision on techno with an uncompromising underground ethos utilising a fusion of deep and energetic electronics, Lee’s sound always creates a myriad of tension and construction which has seen him become one of techno’s elite, appearing in the most prestigious underground venues across the planet. His consistently original and dynamic productions, which have earned him much international ecognition, are frequent and in great demand. Appearing on many impeccable cutting edge and classic imprints over the years, Lee’s music has generated relentless plays and support from the brightest and leading connoisseurs in the underground techno scene.

Continuing with the ‘Limited As Fuck’ series of releases, on our fiercely independent techno label based in Scotland, we’ve got an electronic guardian of such resolute astral belief in how the purest of dance music should be relayed to the occupants of any Celestial City. You will believe in RIOT when we say “The ‘Sentinel’ has awoken.”

Featuring eight tear drops out of the smoke fuelled rain from a distant belt in the galaxy, no ‘Moonrunner’ will be able to surf the ‘Gravitational Waves’ this Motor-City inspired journey takes you on. Book yourself passage on the Starliner ‘Off-World’ for a stargazing extravaganza into ‘The Gates Of Orion’ and witness the brightest of glimmers ........... in the dark.

The full digital release also features one bonus spellbinding track so your mind can melt into the depths of
space and time.

WARNING: YOU WILL OBEY IN ORDER THAT RIOT CAN TAKE YOU ONE STEP BEYOND …………….

Credits:

Written by Lee Holman
Mastered by Joe Farr
Artwork by Alan D. Oldham & Nomad

‘(Listen for) The Rag and Bone Man’ - Reissued and available on vinyl for the first time, was the album that marked the renaissance of the band in 2007, bringing them out of the quietest and most hermetic period of their existence and setting them back on course to establishing themselves as the global, underground phenomenon that they are today.
This new, remastered, edition includes six previously unreleased pieces, written during the same period but not included on the original album.
A work that takes us on a dreamlike journey through dark landscapes coloured by a guitar that brings to mind the trademark sound of their formative years and populated by characters as diverse as the nursery rhyme like ‘A man with a drum’ to William Faulkners ‘Candace’.
The vinyl comes as a gatefold, double album. Also available on CD with booklet including lyrics and photographs. ‘And Also The Trees’ are currently writing their sixteenth studio album and will be performing live in numerous European venues throughout 2025.

Second of two new bass-infected dub EP's with a hint of techno by the Japanese Mystica Tribe. Titletrack ''Stars Are Mine'' and ''His Temple'' immediately set off to deep dub and bass territories in these two typical Mystica Tribe excursions: grooving, but dark with lots of effects and tribal influences. ''Prayer'' evolves around a catchy melodica that won't leave your head for days or maybe even weeks and ''Zen Stone'' tops it off perfectly with this gloomy scifi dubtrip.

Hailed as the “Godfather of electronic music,” Paul Oakenfold is one of the most successful electronic artists of all time, counting more than 110M streams, 5M albums sold worldwide and three GRAMMY nominations.
Oakenfold’s discography includes three full-length studio albums, countless live/compilation albums, singles and remixes, and over 20 DJ mix albums. He has written and produced for major stars like Cher, The Happy Mondays, U2 and Madonna and also counts more than 100 remixes, including ones for The Rolling Stones, Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears and Elvis Presley.

He continues to push the envelope via his game-changing projects, including a once-in-a-lifetime DJ set in April 2017 at the top of the base camp of Mt. Everest, commemorating the set with the release ‘Mount Everest: The Base Camp Mix.’ In September 2018, he became the first-ever artist to perform at Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, followed by his ‘Sunset at Stonehenge’ mix album (February 2019) capturing the historic DJ set. In March 2019, he performed at the 2019 Special Olympics World Games opening ceremony in Abu Dhabi, in addition to remixing the Games’ official theme song.

This release is a reissue of his classic soundtrack album for the 2001 Joel Silver produced Swordfish starring Hugh Jackman, John Travolta, Halle Berry & Don Chedle. It contains tracks specially commissioned for the film written by Paul & film composer Christopher Young, plus his remix versions of N*E*R*D – Lapdance, Afrika Bambaataa - Planet Rock, Muse - New Born, plus tracks from Lemon Jelly + Dope Smugglerz, Jan Johnston.

The original release has sold over 100k units to date & the vinyl is now selling upwards of £300 on Discogs. This 2025 triple vinyl reissue has been remastered at Metropolis Studios + will be pressed on green coloured vinyl & coincides with the 4k UHD limited edition 25th anniversary Blu Ray release.

United by the same impetus, Luche and Laton Raver are two producers and DJs based in Nantes, coming from the free-party scene and members of Esprits Sauvages and Chat Manik. For that new Acid Avengers split EP, they deliver four tracks influenced by the acid sounds of their youth : tribe, doom, belgium old-school scene. Here is a dark and electrifying EP, hypnotic and catchy, for those who like dancing for hours with the feet in the mud and the head in the stars !

Unearthed Records label & party event based in Austin, Texas is proud to debut its first vinyl release, "UERVA002", a fiery compilation featuring emerging talents from Italy and Argentina. Side A brings the dark, hypnotic energy of Italy's underground scene, with moody, experimental grooves that set the dancefloor ablaze. On Side B, Argentina’s rising stars deliver intense tracks full of atmospheric depth and raw power.

Supported by Quest, who has already included several tracks in his sets, this release is quickly making waves in the underground circuit.

Pressed on vinyl, "UERVA002" marks a bold start for Unearthed Records—grab your copy of this limited edition release before it’s gone!

THE DEBUT RELEASE FROM PLANET JUSTICE IS A 2-TRACK EP BY ORESTIZ. MADE WITH A LOT OF LOVE FOR THE BREAKBEAT CULTURE, THE RELEASE EMPHASIZES MELODY AND STORYTELLING. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THIS ONE.

UP IN THE AIR – THE TITLE SYMBOLIZES THE BEGINNING OF THE LABEL. THE TRACK TAKES YOU THROUGH DIFFERENT PHASES AND TO DIFFERENT PLACES - A FINE EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE UPLIFTING AND THE DARKER SIDE OF THINGS.
PLANETS AND STARS – WE'RE ON AN ADVENTURE OUT THERE, AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON AN ADVENTURE. FULL OF SURPRISES AND THRILLS, THIS ONE WILL LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD.

‘The Night of the Stars’ is the fantastic sixth album from Swedish dream pop favorites AZURE BLUE. The album pushes the quality to its peak, exhibiting a richer, clearer, and more luxurious approach to the patented AZURE BLUE sound across ten enticing tracks. Three of the songs generated significant buzz when released as singles. Album opener ‘Rise’ is a shimmering track with a rushing drumbeat topped by luxurious layers of analog synths and a Peter Hook-like bass. The song is a dream pop anthem featuring a timeless chorus and vocal harmonies from AZURE BLUE’s long time companion The Land Below.

The crystal-clear topline in ‘Three Times The Drama’ shines over electric guitars and analog synths to create an immediate pop song with great summer hit potential. The song is also a bittersweet dedication to Tobias Isaksson’s mother, who recently passed away, and its completion provided comfort following a period of unspeakable grief. The album also includes ‘Define Your Dreams’—a bright flare first previewed during the dark days of the pandemic with massive synth walls and lyrics that suggest that while difficult times have passed, more difficult ones may be coming. ‘Visions and Themes’ will have its premiere on October 25 when it is released as the fourth single from the album, while the remaining six tracks provide even further evidence of the brilliance of one of Sweden’s most internationally acclaimed indie artists.

Mixed by Tobias Isaksson and Ollie Olson. Mastered by Håkan Åkesson at Nutidstudio.
Artwork by Alexander Palmestål. Design by James Tassos and Steve Lippert.

12″LP features: limited edition of 300 copies, 140 grams crystal clear vinyl, hand-numbered double-sided postcard, download code.

The eight track journey begins with Timothy Smith of 90s American darkwave band Lestat along with Pat Berdysz and Mekena Berdysz under their View So Cruel guise, “Corpses” is the blackened offering. A blend of styles and voices coalesce in this bright and burnt work. Colombia’s Ravetop follows, rich textured rhythms support scaling synthlines and distant vocals. Acid squawk and looming menace are the ingredients of Ruksby’s romp before Dragée presents an insurmountable wall of string and reverb in “Chapter VI.” The flip brings old friends back into the fold as well as welcoming new names. Canada’s Red Mass conspires with Lieutenant Freebase with unsettling results while Croatia’s Honored Matres returns with the bent and buckled bars and beats of “Sisterhood.” Diana Berti delivers a powerful psychological soundtrack, “Neptune”, before 80s band Simbolo from Brazil closes proceedings with the absorbing analogue abstraction of “For A Better File.” Eight pieces from far and wide, eight tracks that transcend borders and genre tags.

Duncan Forbes returns to 49North with a super fresh sounding 4 track EP, all killer no filler !

First up is ‘Moods Shift And Flicker’ which eUortlessly fuses Duncan’s love of Detroit and dub techno with his love of Chicago house music and spoken word all underpinned by an infectious disco bass line. Following on and taking things up a level or two we are treated to the uplifting peak time monster that is ‘Time Is Now !’. Peak time melodic techno that will be just as at home in any large open-air space as it will in a dark basement. Third on the menu is Spectra, a no holes barred sonic battle weapon that will take you to the stars and back as it builds and builds. Desert is served up in the form of ‘I Wanna Know’ a solid 808 electro workout with one foot in the 80’s and the other somewhere in the future which asks the questions ....How Come The Quantum ? How Come The Universe ? ....... I Wanna Know !

Cobra & The Brotherhood of the Grape is a celebration of friends making music together for many years. An album conceived in the Clot neighbourhood and recorded in Barcelona, Mallorca and Buenos Aires. An "All Stars" occasion where many of the musicians who have played in STA over 20 years have come together to contribute.

The album features digital dub, dark roots and other sunny and bright tracks. Experimental and electronic, but also analog and dense in textures, and delicate in showing it.

After 20 years of the first CD, STA follows their personal path to make Dub. A special mention deserves the album's art by Tomás Spicolli, an old friend and collaborator of STA. Cobra & The Brotherhood of the Grape is the sixth LP in vinyl format within a production that also has several CDs, 7'' and cassettes.

A completely self-produced album. All original riddims. Dub for adults.

2024 Repress

Berlin techno talent Regent is next up on Mutual Rytm as he returns with a compelling new five-track 12" titled 'Coral Knife', plus a digital bonus cut.

Regent emerged only in 2020, but has fired out quality tunes on Planet Rhythm Records, Arts Collective and Warg Records since then. His already extensive catalogue of standout releases combines tough and rapid grooves with cerebral qualities and a real depth of writing and sound design, resulting in timeless yet avant-garde material optimised for the dance floor. For that reason, he is one of the new forces emerging from the German capital and why his next EP, 'Coral Knife', sees him find a perfect home on SHDW's Mutual Rytm imprint as he returns with his first 12" on the label following his appearance on the 'Federation Of Rhythm II' compilation earlier this year.

The tight and funky 'Brickyard' opens with a high-speed groove and a taught synth riff darting about the mix to seductive effect, before 'Driftage' gets more raw with rickety percussion over bulky drums. The synths are dubby and liquid as they get smeared about the mix to bring dynamism to the groove. There is then darkness and heaviness to 'Nocta' with weighty kicks and alluring vocal sounds drifting through the late-night airwaves.
Title track 'Coral Knife' cannot fail to sweep dancers off their feet with its fizzing synths and smooth drum loops overlaid with icy hi-hats that get you into a meditative state, while 'Encoder' layers up bleeps and squeaks over a signature linear groove that is detailed with muffled vocals and distant cosmic stars.

As always with Mutual Rytm, the package rounded out with an impressive digital bonus in the form of 'Multiversa' - a driving and thunderous techno cut that closes the show emphatically.

"Deep Dancefloor Jams of African Disco, Funk, Boogie, Reggae & Proto Electro Music 1977-1986reggWhen a passionate DJ and crate digger intuitively selects music for a DJ compilation, without artistic compromise and without the burden of trends, AfroMagic vol.1 emerges from the depths of his soul. Herewith we present the new favorite phonomancer’s tool for all the DJs who experience the dance floor as a sanctuary and a source of freedom and love.

The most fundamental thing that defines African music is that it was created for dancing. In African dance, there is often no clear distinction between ritual celebration and social recreational entertainment – one can seemlessly merge with the other. Because dance and rhythm have more power than gesture and more richness than words, and because they express the deepest experiences of human beings, dance is in itself a complete and self-sufficient language. It is truly an expression of life with all of its emotions – joy, love, sadness and hope – without which there is no African music and dance. For the African people, dance and music are integral parts of the body and soul, thus depicting the expression of life, current emotional states, visions or dreams. Through hypnotic repetitive music and dance, people communicate with each other and with the souls of the dead, the animals, the plants, the stars, the Gods… They free the body and the spirit through ecstatic states, reaching a healing sense of freedom, happiness, and satisfaction.

Throughout history, this transcendental perception of rhythm and dance originating from Africa, influenced popular music worldwide, thus creating new living and breathing forms of musical genres – freeing them from their industrial mold. Funk, disco, soul, boogie, reggae, dancefloor jazz etc., developed in parallel all over the world. It is foolish to perpetually discuss where they originated from and who were the creators of all these fiery dance floor genres – being obvious that they directly or indirectly originate from the African continent and its people who were as well, over the centuries, influenced by disturbing socio-cultural factors of colonialism. However, no one can enslave the soul. The seeds of free and uninhibited dance and rhythm, true to their original form, initially first sprouted onto the USA’s fertile fields of clubbing and popular music while later evolving in other parts of the world.

The disco funk club culture manifested itself as a phenomenal explosion of artists and grooves in the second half of the 70s in the USA. Shortly it spread around the world continually reigning over charts in its various forms – to this day. Clubs emerged where the DJ is an almighty shaman and the dancers are a tribe united under one roof. This urban ritual had and still has a single goal: togetherness, freedom, and love. Clubs have evolved into temples where we free ourselves from the burden of a consumerist lifestyle and suppressed emotions – a place where we receive love and give love – to be who we really are.

Disco funk clubbing was such an influential global phenomenon that its influence can be observed in various other genres from the disco funk era i.e. progressive rock, which mutated by layering complex rock arrangements with a disco funk groove resulting in hybrids, highly sought by today’s diggers, producers and collectors. The profit-hungry music industry of the 80s very quickly commercialized the original disco funk sound by amputating of its original Afro groove to be able to easily ‘sell’ it globally. So, the original disco funk groove became underground again, and it has remained so until this day. Today, for a DJ to unearth that ravishing groove that will lead the dancers to the stars, he must dig passionately like a true musical archaeologist in search of that groove that picks you up after just a few initial beats. That groove which forces the atoms in your body to vibrate, that groove which unites the body and releases the burden.

The AfroMagic compilation series is created as a tool for real DJs who stick to the aesthetics and essence of clubbing.

This continuation of the Afromagic compilation by DJ Borovich was created in a private jam session which served as an escape route from intense and complex love problems.

Unconsciously driven by intuition and emotion and following a live mix tape framework where many tunes are arranged instantaneously, Borovich narrates his story with a strong rhythm that cuts loose even the most blocked off energy nodes and restores happiness to the spirit and the body.

The musical experience of the groove is completed by the lyrics of the songs, which symbolically give DJ Borovich universal answers to his questions arising from questioning the boundaries, nuances and other forms of love.

When considering that Borovich’s selection was created to facilitate an escape from the burdens of reality through rhythm and dance, we can be sure that Afromagic Vol. 2 will have a 100% uplifting, energized and spaced-out effect on the listeners.

The intro to A1, “Feeling Happy” by the Apostles, introduces us to an experienced and slow, cool and irregularly tight groove containing a confidently sung chorus that instantly gives a sense of freedom and hints at the remainder of Afromagic Vol. 2: “I’m gonna feel happy, ´cause I know I’m gonna be myself.” After the anthemic song mantra of the Apostles, Aigbe Lebarty uncompromisingly continues with a dirty disco rhythm. Acidified by accented synths that elevate it to shamanic levels and held together by a female tribal choir, we embark on an uncompromising ritual disco journey. Without a moment to take a breather the prog funk band Mighty Flames and their Road Man launch a highly vicious and raw, thick funk groove spiced with acid synths and dirty RnR breaks, raising the bar for the A side. Jimi Hendrix himself would surely praise it given the ultimate freedom and virtuosity in the solo sections. With the last tune on A side DJ Borovich decides to burn the floor with Geraldo Pino’s psychedelic, acid furious groove and lyrics which describe this HEAVY part of love problems: “The way she walk, the way she talk, the way she does a funky dances, she is really really heavy – that woman”.

While the A side represents a compact intoxicating afro groove machine that separates us from reality and lifts us up to the stars in over 23 minutes, the B side is a treasure trove of proto sub-genres gems. This selection represents the mission of the Afromagic: to find singular events in African recorded discography of popular music from the 70s and 80s that give evidence to the birth of new modern genres on the Dark Continent even before they emerged in the U.S.A. or Europe. The beginnings of electronic music influenced genres are represented back to back with 80s synth jazzy pop, all painted in African colours.

The B side opens big with Jake Sollo and a huge reggae blues number singing about the humiliation of a man – goosebumps guaranteed! “You think I’m nobody that’s why, you don’t know the way for me, I’m somebody I know, I found myself at last”. Adolf Ahanotu then enters the scene with a hard sliding tackle at B2 and an exotic rare disco funk dancefloor napalm. A ‘Sensation’ that would ignite even the coldest of introverts. While we approach the end of the compilation the narrative revolves again and takes a different turn. No less and no more than to the proto-electro that Baad John Cross serves us in “Give Me Some Lovin´”. The fat and repetitive broken electro synth groove, championing many early 90s electro tracks, is presented here without hesitation and with constant tension accompanied by a mantric chorus “Gimme some, gimme some, gimme some looooovin’, EVERBODY!!!”. Finally, we’re guided to the end of Afromagic Vol. 2 by Eji Oyevole’s 80s synth pop style presented in an authentic afro manner, giving us a glimpse at yet another released Afromagic edition, as well as giving an answer to DJ Borovich’s love problems. A smoothly broken electronic rhythm resembling electrified highlife sounds, carried on the wings of a virtuoso dreamy saxophone on top of which Eji presents the most intimate parts of himself. Finalizing the track with a symbolic chorus, on the surface referring to the dancefloor and simply having fun, but in actuality referring to the skill and happiness of living: “I´m a dancer, I can dance”. So, get up and dance among the stars with DJ Borovich and Afromagic.