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Cuttin' Grooves series return on TNT Records. Mental and raw reissue of some of the
best tracks from master Todd Terry. Ultra-Rare Old School stuff!

The next installment of MFM's popular multi-artist compilation Virtual Dreams: 'Virtual Dreams - Ambient Explorations In The House And Techno Age, Japan 1993-1999'. As with Part One, released in 2020, 'Virtual Dreams II' shines a light on house and techno-adjacent music that helped redefine the definition of ambient music during the 1990s.

The focus of Part One heavily fell on music from techno and house producers in Europe, eagerly exploring new soundtracks for chill-out rooms and re-imagining the potential future of club culture from new perspectives. For Part Two, we narrow the lens to focus on a unique time and place, namely Japan between 1993-1999. Despite missing out on the 'Acid House Fever', club culture was beginning to take shape in Japan during the early '90s. In contrast to the rest of the world, where ambient techno / IDM emerged as a by-product or response to the scene, 'listening techno', as it is known in Japan, was a central pillar of the culture right from the start.

'Virtual Dreams II' aims to shine a light on this unique moment in time where the thread of ambient music weaved its way through the music of an emerging club culture. This period saw the birth of many great Japanese techno labels such as Sublime Records, Transonic Records, Syzygy Records, Frogman Records, and Form@ Records, following in the late '90s. 'Virtual Dreams II' features ambient, chill-out, and intelligent techno from these leading labels alongside other lesser-known but equally influential imprints, as well as ambient deviations from Japanese house producers. Much of the music featured has only ever been released on CD.

'Virtual Dreams II' is compiled by Eiji Taniguchi and Jamie Tiller, who have worked closely together on previous Music From Memory releases such as 'Heisei No Oto' and 'Dream Dolphin - Gaia'. It is also the final project Jamie Tiller worked on before his tragic passing in 2023. Jamie had been researching, planning, and compiling this version of Virtual Dreams even before the first chapter was released, believing that there were many great tracks in Japan that fit the concept of the series. Knowing how much love and energy he put into compiling it gives it an extra special place in our hearts.

Compiled by Jamie Tiller and Eiji Taniguchi with artwork by Kenta Senekt, design by Steele Bonus and liner notes by Itaru W. Mita,

2024 repress.

Daniel Monaco is a musician who defies definition. An artist who is as comfortable strumming a bass as he is bending waveforms on his synths, this is a creative that guarantees something unique. Tu Sei Pazza more than meets that guarantee. The title track is an instant classic.

Soft burbling basslines float around a steady kick before daring brass sections are punctuated by scaling xylophone lines. Somewhere between late 70s lounge music and strikingly modern disco, this piece will put a smile on any face. Whodamanny lands on the flip and takes the original to moonbase five via Studio 54. Tempos are reduced as a path of cosmic laser-funk is taken by the amazingly versatile Naples producer. A cracking close to a 7” that packs a real punch.

LIMITED Quantity. Deep dive into the realm of electro music. Hypnotic multi-layered baselines, unpredicted drops and bursting beats would make precise, nevertheless not full definition of this EP. Following the
debut of the sequel with an exhibition showcasing artwork’s creation and conceptualization, we face SEQ002: False Destination, a new chapter where the story continues in an unexpected way. It holds the question, to which unknown territory did the agent headed from his collapsed dimention? – Side A takes you on a journey that echoes the spirit of interdimensional travel, a recurring theme in electro music. Impact One throws you into a captivating sonic environment, grabbing your attention with distinct sonic events, all layered over a foundation of subtly shifting rhythmic patterns. A2 is another mention of wrong dimention, hard alterations on early 90s Rave revivalism with peculiar artifacts and touch of blue note with breakbeat burst out conclusion. –
On the flip, a couple of heavyweights. Thick kicks jumping from 4 tothe-floor to broken beat, uncertain breakdowns and unexpected amen breaks driving audience on the edge. Hypnotic bassline for B1 was characterized as Giorgio Moroder on steroids. Last track is a calm blend in ending on a hybrid cosmic breaks combined with Yamaha DX7. – ABOUT ARTWORK This time comic-like backside artwork has an insert accompaniment to immerse within the world created by the artist behind the record. AI has been used to create artwork, generating imagery as a way to bring ideas to life. It offers a cryptic clue, a fragmented piece of the puzzle that complements the music to tell the story

Future Romance presents the 2nd edition of their vinyl release series called „Collector“, featuring the labels most wanted and most sucessful tracks. This collector's release is a sonic journey through the realms of melodic house & techno, featuring four captivating tracks by different distinct artists. Each composition has already garnered widespread acclaim and massive DJ support from across the globe. "Collector" is a testament to Future Romance's commitment to delivering unparalleled musical experiences on the beloved vinyl medium. Part II gives us wonderful tracks by Solee, Drumcomplex & Frank Sonic, Off Night and Paul Angelo & Don Argento.

The definition of deep roots, here are a pair of almost never before heard tracks from the mythical Creole.

The A-side "Fishers of Man" is an extended mix, while the B-side "Walls of Jericho" is a vocal cut followed by a synth added version retrieved from dubplate. The vocal cuts are the band's personal rough mixes, which thankfully survived to now be heard. These tracks were meant for an LP that never materialized

Diogo Silva, Nuno Fulgêncio and Rui Martins collectively go by the name Bardino. With their sound consisting of an inventive mix of
electronica, rock, jazz, the Porto-based trio are pushing their sound into unchartered waters. A feeling that will be reinforced after
experiencing their new album, ‘Memória da Pedra Mãe’.
Their enthralling music draws upon the imagery of the beautiful and rugged scenery of their home country. ‘Centelha’ , their previous
album (released by Saliva Diva in 2020) was recorded in Chaves,
in the very remote region of Trás-os-Montes. Their 207 EP of the same name was created in the rustic heart of Serra das Meadas. In this
latest offering, the mention of "Pedra Mãe" (Mother Stone), refers to a rare geological phenomenon popularly known as "breeder stones"
found in isolated, deserted, and inhospitable places. On the inspiration of the new album, they explain that they want to refer to "the
importance of collective memory in the cohesion and identity of communities and the process of creating new memories, a process that
is both natural and conflicting, since it mirrors a tension between past, present and future".
The album was recorded in the summer of 2023 at Arda Recorders in Porto and produced by João Brandão and Rui Martins. In this
new material, Bardino's resources expand: Nuno Fulgêncio's drums, Diogo Silva's bass and Rui Martins' veritable arsenal of keyboards
(acoustic and electric piano, various synthesisers) are augmented by the alto and tenor saxophones of Brian Blaker (who stands out in
"Memória" and "Black Mica"), the guitar of Leonardo Outeiro (who features on "Punctum No 2") and, already indicating their affiliation
with the Porto label Jazzego, Hugo Oliveira, who records as Minus & MRDolly (and is a guest on "Pedra Mãe") and Sérgio Alves, aka
AZAR AZAR (who plays piano and Moog on "Tília"). Bardino's entry into the increasingly unavoidable Jazzego catalogue also reinforces
their obvious links to a new wave of projects that have been experimenting with different tangents to the notion of "jazz", taking this
music as part of a wider set of coordinates.
Over the course of eight tracks, and clearly benefiting from the distinct imprint of the recognised quality work of João Brandão, one of
Portugal's current best producers, Bardino presents dense, deeply cinematic music of the highest definition, in which the different
instruments translate a broad emotional and visual landscape, with solos of enormous elegance arranged over grooves that induce the
idea of movement. All the musical coordinates mentioned earlier are present, but perhaps in this new material you can feel a greater
fluidity, certainly the result of honing the vision of the central trio through a vast experience collected on stages all over the country. And
there are even echoes of a decidedly Portuguese songbook, as is so clearly felt in "O Semeador", something new in the range of aesthetic
references embraced by Bardino. This is, in fact, music that thrives on a benign tension between past, present and future, in the sense
that it embraces traditions and history, seeks a new framework in this diverse now and dares to project itself forward. Because the future
is the best of all locations.

Future Romance unveils their exclusive vinyl release series called „Collector“, featuring the labels most wanted and most sucessful tracks. This collector's release is a sonic journey through the realms of melodic house & techno, featuring four captivating tracks by different distinct artists. Each composition has already garnered widespread acclaim and massive DJ support from across the globe. "Collector" is a testament to Future Romance's commitment to delivering unparalleled musical experiences on the beloved vinyl medium. Part I gives us wonderful tracks by Einmusik & Solee, Several Definitions, Gai Barone and Emiliano Demarco & Maxi Vega.

Surfaced Trax returns for its second chapter with a solid V.A. compilation. "Sub Sonics Vol. 1" offers four dancefloor-ready tracks full of character.

The 'Sub Sonics Vol. 1' features tracks produced by Parallax Deep, Weirdvin aka Edvin Wikner and Kasvo, showcasing their unique character and talent. Parallax Deep does the honours of closing and opening the compilation with style - 'Submerged' (A1) and 'Sediment' (B2) are two exquisitely groovy, deep excursions full of emotive pads, sub-basses and detailed syncopated rhythms and creative sampling, showcasing their very personal definition of deep techno. Weirdvin's 'Morphing' (A2) is a bleepy minimal techno groover aimed at dancefloor hypnotism - swirling melodies, freaky vocal sampling, odd sonic textures - a recipe for a perfectly wacky dancefloor moment. Kasvo's 'Karura' is a finely creative, dub-infused stroll in a deep, dark forest, where nature's very own sounds are sampled as the perfect rhythm and atmosphere tools, relying on a thumping kick and bassline for total immersion.

yet is a slippery word in English. Amorphous, these three letters in dierent contexts can define contrast or emphasis, set a place in time, show an expectation that something will occur or, paradoxically, that it is likely to stop.
It is this mercurial nature that makes yet the perfect title for Tresor’s latest compilation: the label follows on from the more explorative sections of 2021’s landmark Tresor 30 boxed set with a compilation, featuring 13 artists making music that resists easy definition.
Every track hints at and borrows from the familiar yet none follow the expected path: halfway through Deserto, Nandele & A-Tweed dramatically reveal a very dierent sonic landscape that was initially suggested; DJ Sotofett collaborates with Sri Lankan artist Kavadi with results that are unlike anything in the Norwegian producer’s catalogue as yet.
Further invention can be found as Jean Redondo’s Hypersonic moves across spaces inhabited by digital hardcore and hyperpop before swerving o-road and into a futuristic hip-hop section; on No Longer Human, Ireen Amnes takes a dierent path at the crossroads melding hyperpop, trance, and sci-fi soundtrack atmospherics, Significant Other heads towards UK Bass and Dubstep, and France’s Willis Anne skims by the outskirts of footwork with a piece that is almost completely uncategorisable.
Yet more sonic experimentation comes from E-Saggila, Nadia Struiwigh, NVST, Solid Blake, and Viikatory who oer unique takes on the well-established electro blueprint, while Ryan James Ford, and Nit. both find ways to blend elements normally found in ambient pieces with those heard on a dancefloor.
The feel of the compilation is yet again reflected in the enigmatic artwork by Malik Arbab, where shapes and colours suggest animals and plants but in a world that appears to be transient and constantly evolving.

"Non Masse" is the new LP from Brussels-based artist and producer Apulati Bien.

After several notable releases on the Parisian label Promesses ("OO:NÉ", "RER TRACKS" & "Azone", jointly released on the Belgian label KRAAK) in solo or via the duo XOLOT he forms with artist Vica Pacheco, navigating in a neo-futuristic aesthetic with glitch and experimental influences mixed with juke, footwork and more broadly bass music heritage, Apulati Bien explores this time new territories, devoid of preconceived forms and leaving more space to each element.

Recorded at the time of the finalization of his last album "Azone" released in February 2022, with the will to proceed with a different method, even opposed to the one he knows, "Non Masse" (whose title is equivocal of the approach) is a more aerial object, with unquantified structures and sliding material, reflecting a feeling of "wanting to get out of (his) own mass", according to his words. A feeling certainly shared by many during the troubled period of the last two years, and which echoes a general desire for detachment, for withdrawal combined with a search for discovery in these overloaded times.

"Non Masse" is not however an object apart from Apulati Bien's discography, where we find the main elements of his music : futuristic references, glitch and digital contortions, which should not be approached as a light object but as a complex one, where the subtle details don't aim at diverting the attention, but on the contrary at nourishing a more global speech. The title "Alone Global" of one of the tracks is probably the most accurate definition of this project.

2023 Repress

Greyscale is extremely proud to bring Martin Schulte to its long growing and talented roster.
Not only is this a double-single but each track is supported with a remix from a top-tier artist in Vril and our very own grad_u! Dancing Street & Skyscraper Street is special in many ways!
On 'Dancing Street', Martin gives your equilibrium a real test with its off-axis beat structure and fantastic chord definition. As the track releases the pressure nearing the end is nothing short of genius. This is not for the faint of heart! 'Skyscraper Street' is the ideal counterpoint to 'Dancing Street'. A perfectly tempoed tech masterpiece, it soars over a city soundscape riding a confident beat. For the B side, grad_u on the remix gives us a wall-shaker! A serious
main floor sound and the only relief from the intense bass is the beautiful chord work. The word epic comes to mind from our label leader! There is a handful of names that are buy on site when you see them and VRIL is no doubt one. This remix of 'Skyscraper Street' is drenched in layer upon layer of shimmering and fractured melodies. This experimental and almost dreamlike state of consciousness is auditory sensory overload of the highest order! Martin Schulte, VRIL and grad_u on the same EP!
Mastered at the legendary Dubplates & Mastering in Berlin on white 180 gram vinyl. The depth of these should not be understated!
Analogue photography by Rima Prusakova

If you decide to look up the strict definition of outsider in any dictionary, you'll find that the term is understood as "a person who is not involved with a particular group of people or organization or who does not live in a particular place".

Perhaps this is the most accurate description of Santiago Merino. For a long decade and from his native Medellín, this DJ and producer has always tried to keep his sonic spectrum open. An interdisciplinary artist capable of freely navigating through a myriad of genres is rarely encountered, and that may be the reason why Santiago enjoys a non-negotiable respect in the different scenes that make up the music circuit of his city. On this occasion, Back Door Records is pleased to serve as host to receive one of the most anticipated facets within the range of music produced by this Colombian artist.

The Outsider marks the debut of a new project signed by Merino, a new hunch in which house takes the helm of an EP entitled 4 Club Use. Composed of five tracks, 4 Club Use seems to show us the true essence behind a genre that has almost been trivialized over the years. In this case, El Outsider decided to take the basic ingredients of tech house to produce a recipe much richer in flavors, textures and melodies. "Fire People", for example, leaves the window open for the airs of Detroit techno to come in and cool off any sunny afternoon. "Outsider" and "The Heat", on the other hand, are seasoned by the purest amen breaks, as if it were a blessing intended solely for the dance floor.

But the real deal across 4 Club Use is definitely El Outsider's own edit of Merino's track "Those Days". Raw and forceful kicks, meticulously sampled vocals and pads that seem to wrap them magically, make this bomb one of the candidate tracks to take the absolute podium of 2023.

Time for another chapter in the ever expanding Yellow Jackets series from Mother Tongue!

On the A side we have a real definition of a Banger….Marcellus Pittman’s rework of the Belgian 1983 cult track ‘Death Disco’ by Arbeid Adelt! Not much to say about this one, it's simply a nasty piece of industrial acid disco!

On the flipside Chicago’s modern answer to Sun RA , Jamal Moss, brings the listener to an astral ceremony with ‘An Astronomical Object’. Another crucial moment in Hieroglyphic Being’s breathtaking discography.

Yellow Jackets..Loud & Proud!

Home is a powerful concept with an abstract definition. This solo album takes those subjective ideas and unifies them under one roof. Evolving from Jerve’s #dailypiano posts in 2019, ‘The Soundtrack of My Home’ relays thoughts and improvisations that trace his journey from childhood home to adult and now, father. Nurturing a mood or feeling, each song begets a sonorous story of someone close to him, expressed through the language of piano playing.

Jerve makes use of his hands as a human step sequencer, often programming two or more motifs of varying lengths in a polymetric fashion. These melodic patterns and arpeggios evolve at varying rates but grow around clear progressions with standard 8-bar forms.

The first track - ‘Kjetil’ enters with an earnest, gentle and endearing character - like a young river near its source. As with such a river, it will grow to varied sizes throughout the album but must begin as a humble expression from the source. The following titles sketch his interpretations of the people that have made up his home.

There is a theme across the album that unites the songs, so much so that differentiating tracks can at times be difficult. Though, Jerve punctuates this overarching mood with a few distinct structures, as found in tracks ‘Karoline’ (wife), ‘Espen’ (brother) and ‘Sven’ (father). ‘Turid’ (daughter) and ‘Jon Eirik’ (brother) seem less directive and welcome more intrigue, reminiscent of a curious child wandering through the dappled light of a forest.

‘Iben’ (daughter) and ‘Eivor’ (daughter) have a hypnotic, three-pointed melodic structure that leaves the listener suspended; transfixed - while ‘Sussi’ (cat) carries unique momentum and suitably feline autonomy. ‘Mette’ (mother) has a mood of ascending, like that of a child's upward gaze at their maternal carer. Utterly nuanced in structure, Jerve leaves ample space for subjective interpretation and allows the listener to weave their own life into the tones.

As expected from the founder of Dugnad rec - this album signifies a deeply personal sentiment. Sometimes we are forced to confront the music and other times, we are left to wonder. Here, we find a balance and unity that allows little thoughts and worries to drift away, bringing us warmly to rest in the present. The LP edition's bonus track features producer/performer extraordinaire Stian Balducci, drawing a line to the next chapter of piano-based music from Dugnad rec: TOKYO TAPES: PIANO RECYCLE.

Gudu Records continues a busy start to 2022 with Italian due Hiver’s debut for the label - a high-definition EP that draws on classic electro and techno, following the group’s acclaimed past releases for Curle Recordings, Bokhari and Deeplabs.

A record that both marks and celebrates Hiver’s 10 years of operation, ‘Wave Sliding’ wears its influences on its sleeve: lead track ‘The Initiative’ is a “tribute to Detroit’s Hi-Tech Funk of the early 2000s”, lead by the sort of ostinato bassline and legato strings that have become Hiver’s trademark. ‘Vapour’ and ‘Entangle’ continue the EP’s retro-futurist outlook, drawing on sci-fi imagery and themes of travel, while ‘Stateless’ looks to the “easy-trance” sounds of 90s dancefloors for inspiration. Together, the tracks mark a perfect summary of Hiver’s vision of the dancefloor - bound together by vibrant colours and a starry-eyed, utopian nature.

Mixed Colored Vinyl

The London label continues to innovate with their biggest release to date.

10 tracks – 10 incredible artists adding to their string of solid releases by new and established art-ists.

Setting fire to the rage of acceptance.
–
Sublime Creatures, defiant of society’s cages, its definitions of power, beauty and status. A higher stance above bitter re-sentment. A pro-active community of thin- kers. A patch-work of empowered souls, ideas and experiences.

Directly related to one of the sentences in our manifesto, Sublime Creatures is a call to our most powerful selves.
–
The name of the label itself is about us working on bettering ourselves and being united in all our differences. “Reptile” is about our relationship with the reptilian brain and our efforts to understand what truly means to be human (tools to perfect your instinct), becoming aware of our-selves and the others around us. “House of” is a direct allusion to the “house and ball culture” movements in NYC in the early 80s.

The sense of a real family of strangers coming together around a shared sense of purpose.

Following the success of the last Parquet Most Wanted EP´s, here comes the 17th volume with four gorgeous melodic-techno anthems by SOLEE, SEVERAL DEFINITIONS, RINZEN & EVAN CASEY, HOLLT!

These tracks already received big international DJ support by Solomun, Tale of Us, Victor Ruiz, John Digweed, Fideles, Format B, Bebetta, Chicola, Moonbootica, Mees Salome, Hidden Empire and many more.

Here we go with the twelfth edition of "Parquet Most Wanted", featuring another 4 top-notch productions by SOLEE, SEVERAL DEFINITIONS, ALYNE and THE DUALZ! Already huge DJ support by John Digweed (Bedrock), Victor Ruiz (Suara), Musumeci (Kompakt), Hernan Cattaneo (Sudbeat), DJ Hell (Gigolo), Marcus Worgull (Innervisions), Robert Babicz, Petar Dundov (Systematic), Bebetta (Monaberry), Dirty Doering (Katermukke), Kollektiv Turmstrasse (Diynamic), Mira (Katermukke) and many more. Don´t miss this master class collection of deep melodic House & Techno sound!

While My Sequencer Gently Bleeps. Live. 60 minutes of deep bass, clever drum patterns and shimmering melodies on tape. Experience the essence of Stefan Schwanders latest musical self (aka Harmonious Thelonious, A Rocket In Dub or Antonelli Electr.) as he is pushing the Monomachine to its limits. This live set with quite a few unreleased tracks was recorded on a funkscapes night at Open Ground in Wuppertal.

*Limited edition (500) reissue of The Orchids second album – originally released on Sarah Records in 1991- remastered with the 7” and E.P tracks from the time. Translucent pink*
“The Orchids have a lightness of touch, an autumnal and mellow fruitfulness, a clear-eyed pop nous. Imagine some nexus that takes in Felt, Orange Juice, The Beach Boys and The Go-Betweens”
-Stuart Maconie

“The Orchids can come on like esoteric angels high on Felt and Massive Attack”
– John Mulvey, NME

The early summer bloom of 1992 felt like it had been pollinated by a lot of sunshine-loving records from the year before, optimistic headrushes that embraced hedonistic bliss or at least a sweeter ride. There was still an element of bedroom wistfulness to singles like Higher Than The Sun, Nothing Can Stop Us and even Paris Angels’ Perfume but there was no denying the appeal that techno, rave and Bleep held, especially when it was microdosed. Bands were more willing to experiment with technology and producers, if not necessarily going for all whistles-blazing club bangers.

The Orchids, hailing from the suburbs of Glasgow were unlikely to ever emerge from their hood as contenders for a deal on Soma Records (which had begun in 1991 in that city) but they evidently wanted to stretch their boundaries beyond their introverted debut. Unholy Soul is somewhat breezier than Lyceum. It’s still laced with a Scottish melancholy but there’s more breathing space within the production. They’d hinted as much on their 12” ‘Penetration’ EP from 1991 and lovelorn songs such as Waiting For The Storm and Peaches are now spiked by absent-minded cherubs with an ear for the 3.a.m comedown.

As lead singer James Hackett says today: “Unholy Soul was the first time we had spent more than a couple of days in the studio, doing so after work. It was a thrilling period of creativity and we had most of the songs written but not enough. We didn’t worry about that too much though because with Ian Carmichael there was a new opportunity for studio generation. Also this was the first time we had heard Pauline (Hynds) singing with One Dove so we asked her to sing on some of the songs. We were obviously influenced by a lot of the music of the time but you can still hear it’s The Orchids at heart”.

The next year of course One Dove (with Carmichael programming) released their debut album - produced by Andrew Weatherall - on the Boy’s Own label. It felt like there was a lot of ideas being spun back and forth between artists and producers in the early 90s. If some of the records also sound very much of that time that’s no bad thing either. There was a lot of loved-up nostalgia for the 60s then so it’s no surprise that many of the records have a youthful exuberance coupled to a technological innocence, that’s the charm.

With Random Constraint Satisfaction Problems, the ever elusive and shape-shifting Thomas Bush offers up a new album of category scrambling song craft. Since earlier solo efforts like Old And Red (2018), Preludes (2022) and The Next 60 Years (2024), Bush—currently based in Malmö—has traced a digressive path that has proven him capable of everything from murky wobbling dirges to uptight head-bopping laments to crystalline synth chords that hang precariously in the air over your new favourite bass line. Like its title, the album's songs/tunes/opportunities for pleasure offer the listener further evidence of a sensibility that is equal parts ambiguity and clarity.

In addition to his solo work, Bush has worked with a range of collaborators in one-off configurations and longer term projects like RAP (with Guy Gormley) and cATHOLIC CHURGH (with Jon Auman). Critical responses to Bush's output have often focused on his predilection for certain folk-ish impulses and instrumentation, but, judging from releases like 2026's guld, his definition of "folk music" seems to have as much to do with A Guy Called Gerald as it does with Shirley Collins or John Martyn.

For all of its diversity, what unites Bush's ever-expanding body of work is its dual commitment to experimentation and a job well done.

“Random Constraint Satisfaction Problems was recorded at Vista Studio 1, Malmö between 2022 and 2025. After creating an account at academia.edu for the purpose of reading a text now forgotten, I began to get emails asking me questions such as ‘Thomas Bush, did you write “Brucellosis and Sacroiliitis: A Common Presentation of an Uncommon Pathogen”?’ or ‘Are you the Thomas Bush who wrote “ATR-dependent phosphorylation of FANCA on serine 1449 after DNA damage is important for FA pathway function”?’, which began to make me wonder if I was, or if not, perhaps I should.

The resulting work is an attempt to find meaning in this, and other chaotic and ambiguous situations through analysis using materials and equipment available to hand. Being sensitive to signs and following them with enthusiasm. Both the source material and evaluation is presented.”

It’s safe to say that Rochester, NY rapper of Italian descent Pounds’ work ethic is unmatched: he’s constantly on the grind, loud in the lab but quiet on the outside, he wastes no time unlike many other big mouthed rappers these days and then, all of a sudden, he drops a bomb on you. To kick off 2018 in the best of ways, he released a 4-tracks collaboration EP with West Coast producer , 1/2 of Gangrene, Oh No entitled “Borgata”. The record opens up with “Last Supper” and with a clear statement of intent: “Run for your life, my cousin brought a drum and a knife, break my hand on your face I need a bucket of ice” just so you understand where this project is headed since the first song. His style is always direct, without any frills, with his trademark voice spitting gritty crime-themed bars that revolve around drug and the street life that raised him. A “borgata” in Italy is a “hood”, and Pounds, being the definition of an artist that talks the talk and walks the walk, couldn’t pick a better title for this project.

Limited edition vinyl release of 500 hand-numbered copies with etched B-side, black vinyl.

Geoff Kirkwood (Man Power)

I’dgained some notoriety as a music producer and DJ but I hit a horrible case of writers block around 2018.

The problem I was finding was that I was trying to shoe horn every smart arsed clever dick musical reference I had into the music I was making, but the function of dance music is to make people dance, not to show people who broad your musical references are, so I was making pretty shitty music that landed in the middle and didn’t achieve either aim.

To tackle this I ended up committing to just trying to make the most expressive and wanky experimental stuff I could. I was immersed in club culture at the time so the whole enterprise started as a joke, hence the name “Bed Wetter”. However when I fully submitted to just naked exploration the really unexpected thing that happened was that I found myself unavoidably having to deal with a lot of my own bullshit. That bullshit turned into the “Billy Mill is Dead” album, which was essentially the sound of me excavating my own life and looking at how I felt about where I was from, where I was headed, my family, my history, my region and all of the things i have conflicting feelings about.

It was partially catharsis and also a bit of deprogramming around being able to call myself an artist after being raised to believe that wasn’t an option for me.

I self released Billy Mill is Dead in the months before the pandemic and it found it’s fair share of love in the places I hoped would connect with it, and just the right amount of being ignored by people who I’m pleased didn’t feel it. This all lead to me being emboldened enough to apply for an artist in residence position at a big regional opera house months later in the middle of lockdown.

My feeling was that if my DJ career was potentially over for the remainder of my lifetime then there was no harm in exploring this alternative method of expression to see where it could take me.

I submitted a ridiculously ambitious plan for what I would like to do as a project, and to my absolute shock I was selected for the position.

I was 40 years old and from a scarcity background so I had a potentially unique response to that kind of validation for the first time and what followed next was a process of me just coming back with bigger and more ridiculous ideas just to find out at whatstage they’d tell me to stop.

The thing is, nobody did. I got as far as suggesting writing a full symphony to be performed by an orchestra before my own nerve gave out and I decided that was probably as far as I should push things.

The problem with people giving you permission to do things is that you then need to go out and figure out how to do those things.

The biggest issue for me, beyond raising the money to pay for everything, was how does a person actually write a symphony?

I was introduced to Fiona Brice, a multi instrumentalist and orchestral arranger. She’s also a recording artist who releases on Bella Union. On top of that she’s a violinist who used to be part of the band Placebo and who used to appear regularly playing for other bands on things like Top of the Pops.

Not only was Fiona uniquely placed to not look down on the strange provenance of someone from an Acid House background wanting to write a symphony, but more to the point we really hit it off from day one.

Fiona coached me in the essentials of writing for an Orchestra, and then I went off and wrote the 8 movements.

I’d love to say I laboured for years over this bit, but it took about 2 weeks in total. I’d also love to say what I wrote was a complete symphony, but the version of this which is solely me feels like looking at something without your glasses on. The shape,feel and borders were all there, but the definition was absent. Fiona taught me the broad language of a symphony, but without her it would have lacked all intonation, nuance and detail. Where I had shaped ideas with a hammer, she brought out my meaning with precision using a scalpel.

I think the prodigiously quick turnaround for the music is as much proof of how conceptually and musically aligned Fiona and I are. I know we’re both incredibly proud of what we’ve created.

It took nearly 2 more years to stage the debut performance in what was potentially the most traumatic period of my life which saw me embroiled in an international crisis with my own family and the death of my father, all with the backdrop of COVID.

The work itself is inspired by the working class experience, but it’s also a comment on how we get to decide what we are and how we’re defined, and we get to choose what we do to prove these things.

The original recording was contractually impossible to ever share again, so we re-recorded it in a working men’s club with jobbing (albeit world class) players. In many ways it’s a record that feels like it shouldn’t exist, which is why we’re all so happy that it does.

Opéra de Nuit emerge from their long slumber to grace Dark Entries with the frostiest of reissues. Formed in 1982 in Valréas in the southeast of France, Opéra de Nuit only released 3 records throughout their career: EPs in 1984 and 1986, with a full LP following in 1988. But devotees of dark music will need no introduction to this band, who are almost definitional of the coldwave genre, and whose rabid cult following has each record readily trading for three-digit prices. Opéra de Nuit’s sound is pure hellish heaven: frigid synths, jangly guitars, and sorrow-laden vox. Check out the pummelling desperation of “Annabella,” the uber-brooding vibes of “Boris Transylvania Camp,” or the elegant anthem “Karen Lloyd” (and don’t forget to watch the video!). This reissue collects their entire newly remastered discography - thirteen lucky tracks. This reissue marks the first time that their work will be reissued on vinyl and digital, and is presented in gatefold jacket with lyrics and photos. Whether you’re new to the genre or a veteran of the coldest waves, Opéra de Nuit brings the essential sound of immortal despair.

The Seeds stand tall amongst the handful of mid-60s American garage bands whose influence is palpable in rock to this day. Led by charismatic frontman Sky Saxon, the original Hollywood-based quartet’s unique and exciting brand of minimalist rock’n’roll still sounds contemporary and is perfectly encapsulated on this first album. If second album “A Web Of Sound” was pop-art flash, and 1967’s “Future” a florid take on psychedelia, then the July 1966 debut remains The Seeds’ grand statement; an all-original programme of rock and R&B-inflected garage punk that buzzed with a peculiar-yet-riveting energy that was the ensemble’s very own.

Whilst ”The Seeds” contains a pair of familiar classics in ‘Can’t Seem To Make You Mine’ and ‘Pushin’ Too Hard’,’ it is instructive to remember that it was recorded and released some time before either tune became a hit. Unlike so many albums of that era, the Seeds’ debut was not a quickie thrown to together to take advantage of singles chart success. Instead, the record constitutes a sharp definition of their unique and aberrant style, featuring several key items within their canon, be they the rough-hewn rockers ‘Girl I Want You’ and ‘No Escape’, the pot-boiling blues ‘Nobody Spoil My Fun’,’ or the lengthy and downright sinister ‘Evil Hoodoo’.’

Optmst has spent the last decade establishing himself as one of Belfast most distinctive underground producers with releases on Shall Not Fade, R&S records & Cloudcore. Rooted in club music but resistant to easy definition, his debut EP Flux moves through 140BPM pressure, postdubstep weight and garage-adjacent rhytms . Warm analog electronics meet infectious grooves, IDM detail and a melodic sensibility that pulls you back to the hook.

Skyjack — the borderless five piece band spread across South Africa and Switzerland — announce their fourth studio album, Let The Sky Open Under Your Feet, out 3rd July.

Recorded in December 2025 at a secluded studio outside Stellenbosch, South Africa, the album captures the vibrant live energy of the band at its most expansive — drawing together free improvisation, South African jazz traditions, chamber music, kinetic groove, and ecstatic collective interplay into a singular body of work.

“This record is a very articulate representation of our sound, having grown deep roots into the earth with high branches reaching upward and outward”, says bassist Shane Cooper. “My desire is always to create sonic universes that can envelope the listener.”

The album’s title comes from a line in a poem by the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi, reflecting the music’s balance between groundedness and transcendence. Here, Skyjack move fluidly between meditative improvisation and lush orchestration across twelve tracks of free-spirited, cosmic journeying. Inspired both by the cultural traditions and natural environments of South Africa, Let The Sky Open Under Your Feet is a testament to the band’s intuitive connection and innate musical curiosity.

It arrives just over a year after Light Cycle (2024), a short gap that reflects the momentum built on tour. After exchanging sketches remotely across two continents, the band reunited in Johannesburg in late 2025, workshopped the new material onstage across South Africa, and then headed directly into the studio, where much of the album was recorded live in first takes — preserving the looseness and unpredictability central to Skyjack’s sound.

Comprised of Kyle Shepherd (piano), Shane Cooper (bass), Jonno Sweetman (drums), Andreas Tschopp (trombone), and Marc Stucki (saxophones), Skyjack first formed in Cape Town in 2013 during a fertile moment in South African jazz, as a new generation of musicians pushed against rigid genre definitions and opened the music outward toward broader sonic possibilities. Over the past decade, the band has built a singular sound drawing equally on South African groove traditions and European improvisation.

Individually, the members move between jazz, electronic music, film scoring, rock, hip-hop and experimental composition, with collaborations spanning artists including William Parker, Lionel Loueke, Zim Ngqawana, Ben LaMar Gay, Jorge Rossy, Shabaka Hutchings, William Kentridge, Makaya McCraven and Sylvie Courvoisier.

Since their self-titled debut in 2015, followed by The Hunter (2019) and Light Cycle (2024), the group has developed a reputation for immersive live performances and music that continuously reshapes itself in motion — rooted in what they describe as “warm menacing African grooves,” while refusing fixed stylistic borders.

Discosabotage Records is an evolution of the collective founded by Luval in Amsterdam in April 2024. Having recently relocated, he felt the need to create something that truly reflected his own vision and the music he loves. What started with selecting records gradually evolved into selecting demos, driven by an increasing desire to shape a distinctive identity and sound.

DSB001 is the label’s first various artists release, featuring Luval, Massi, Two Opposites, and Paradise City Breakers. Each artist brings a unique perspective while remaining connected to the vision behind Discosabotage. The release moves through different shades of electronic music, from deep and hypnotic grooves to darker, more introspective territories, always maintaining a strong sense of definition and purpose. While each track speaks its own language, together they form a cohesive journey rooted in underground electronic culture.

This first VA marks the beginning of a label that is still taking shape, defining its path through dark atmospheres, refined rhythms, and carefully crafted electronic textures. A first statement from Discosabotage, and the starting point of what is yet to come.

Das 1981 erstmals erschienene Album „Give the People What They Want“ setzte den Erfolg der Kinks
aus den frühen 80er-Jahren mit ihrem direkten, gitarrenlastigen Sound und pointierten, zeitgenössischen
Themen fort. Als eines ihrer erfolgreichsten Alben in den USA enthält es herausragende Titel wie „Destroyer“, „Better Things“ und „Around the Dial“. Diese Edition von 2026 wurde von den Originalquellen
neu gemastert und bietet verbesserte Klarheit, Definition und Ausgewogenheit, wobei der Charakter und
die Energie der Originalmixe erhalten blieben.
Das 1979 erstmals veröffentlichte Album „Low Budget“ markierte mit seinem härteren, stadiontauglichen
Sound einen Wendepunkt in der späten Karriere der Kinks. Es avancierte zu einem der stärksten US-Alben
der Band und gilt bis heute als eines der prägendsten Alben ihrer späten 70er-Jahre.
Diese Edition von 2026 wurde von den Originalquellen neu gemastert und bietet verbesserte Klarheit, Ausgewogenheit und Dynamik, ohne den Charakter des Originalmixes zu beeinträchtigen. Titel wie „(Wish I
Could Fly Like) Superman“, „Catch Me Now I’m Falling“ und der Titelsong profitieren von einer detaillierteren und fokussierteren Wiedergabe.

Das 1981 erstmals erschienene Album „Give the People What They Want“ setzte den Erfolg der Kinks
aus den frühen 80er-Jahren mit ihrem direkten, gitarrenlastigen Sound und pointierten, zeitgenössischen
Themen fort. Als eines ihrer erfolgreichsten Alben in den USA enthält es herausragende Titel wie „Destroyer“, „Better Things“ und „Around the Dial“. Diese Edition von 2026 wurde von den Originalquellen
neu gemastert und bietet verbesserte Klarheit, Definition und Ausgewogenheit, wobei der Charakter und
die Energie der Originalmixe erhalten blieben.
Das 1979 erstmals veröffentlichte Album „Low Budget“ markierte mit seinem härteren, stadiontauglichen
Sound einen Wendepunkt in der späten Karriere der Kinks. Es avancierte zu einem der stärksten US-Alben
der Band und gilt bis heute als eines der prägendsten Alben ihrer späten 70er-Jahre.
Diese Edition von 2026 wurde von den Originalquellen neu gemastert und bietet verbesserte Klarheit, Ausgewogenheit und Dynamik, ohne den Charakter des Originalmixes zu beeinträchtigen. Titel wie „(Wish I
Could Fly Like) Superman“, „Catch Me Now I’m Falling“ und der Titelsong profitieren von einer detaillierteren und fokussierteren Wiedergabe.

Downtown Boys have pushed relentlessly forward as an artistic and political project since their founding. Singer Victoria Marie and guitarist/singer Joey La Neve DeFrancesco first met at union meetings while working together at a hotel in Providence, RI, writing many of the band's early songs about labor organizing and exploitative workplaces. The quintet is completed by Joe DeGeorge (sax/synth), Mary Jane Regalado (bass), and Joey Doubek (drums). Over years of touring, and three acclaimed albums, Downtown Boys have continued to grow as artists, musicians, and organizers. Now, the band has arrived with Public Luxury, an enthralling album that keeps politics front and center while summoning the band's most urgent and powerful sound to date. The definition of Public Luxury falls very much in line with that of the title of the second Downtown Boys LP, Full Communism. Straight up, Public Luxury means, "everything for everyone." It's the stubborn insistence that a better world is possible, while fully recognizing the horrors we witness daily, and the individual and collective responsibility to resist the nihilism and hopelessness we all feel. Sentiments like "everything for everyone," and "we will have it all" perfectly represent the cathartic, communal live experience this cadre of multi-instrumentalists create. These sentiments also encapsulate the inclusive, joyful sonic fusion that defines the album: anthemic punk and indie rock mix with Latin traditions, drum machines blend with acoustic drums, saxophones punctuate riffs, and layers of synths add flourishes from new-wave to industrial. The amount of ground covered on Public Luxury can't be overstated, and yet the album feels totally vital and cohesive. Public Luxury is a revisitation of the band's past for the sake of their future. It was co-produced by DeFrancesco with recording engineer and longtime Downtown Boys supporter Seth Manchester (Lambrini Girls, Lightning Bolt, Model/Actriz) at the Pawtucket, RI studio and arts space Machines With Magnets, not far from the band's first home of Providence, RI. Victoria Marie's grandmother-a monumental figure for the band throughout their existence-passed away in May of 2025, and her influence looms large over the album; the songs "No Me Jodas" and "Sirena" are crystallized representations of the love between a woman and her ancestor. Beyond the loss, rage and frustration of the present, Public Luxury points boldly towards a vibrant, open-hearted vision of both music and the world: "Our music is simply for anyone and everyone who believes in the new future we can make together," Victoria Marie declares. "A world that will be awkward, inconsistent, yet truly free when it comes to all that matters."

Im Jahr 2006 verwischte Japans Envy unwiderruflich die Grenzen zwischen all den verschiedenen Subgenres des Underground-Rock und verschmolz Post-Hardcore, Screamo, Shoegaze und Ambient-Minimalismus zu ihrem filmischen Meisterwerk ,Insomniac Doze". Es war kein Ziel ohne Weg - die beiden vorangegangenen Alben der Band, ,All the Footprints You've Left Behind And The Fear Expecting Ahead" (2001) sowie "A Dead Sinking Story" (2003), waren klare Anzeichen dafür, dass eine Veränderung vor der Tür stand. Wie immer wurden envy von kreativer Neugier und emotionaler Erkundung angetrieben. Vielleicht verkörpert kein Album in ihrer fast vier Jahrzehnte langen Geschichte dieses Streben besser als ,Insomniac Doze". Zwanzig Jahre später gilt es als Wegbereiter und als eines der besten Beispiele dafür, wie die Vorurteile gegenüber Punk in Luft aufgelöst werden. ,Insomniac Doze - Anniversary Edition" feiert das 20-jährige Jubiläum seit der Veröffentlichung von envy's wegweisendem Album. Das Album wurde 2026 von Josh Bonati remastert und erscheint in einer neuen Deluxe-Gatefold-Auflage, die die kompletten Songtexte sowohl auf Englisch als auch auf Japanisch enthält. Es ist die definitive Version eines Albums, das maßgeblich zur Definition eines Genres beigetragen hat.

Limitierte Auflage auf metallisch-goldenem Vinyl. Im Jahr 2006 verwischte Japans Envy unwiderruflich die Grenzen zwischen all den verschiedenen Subgenres des Underground-Rock und verschmolz Post-Hardcore, Screamo, Shoegaze und Ambient-Minimalismus zu ihrem filmischen Meisterwerk ,Insomniac Doze". Es war kein Ziel ohne Weg - die beiden vorangegangenen Alben der Band, ,All the Footprints You've Left Behind And The Fear Expecting Ahead" (2001) sowie "A Dead Sinking Story" (2003), waren klare Anzeichen dafür, dass eine Veränderung vor der Tür stand. Wie immer wurden envy von kreativer Neugier und emotionaler Erkundung angetrieben. Vielleicht verkörpert kein Album in ihrer fast vier Jahrzehnte langen Geschichte dieses Streben besser als ,Insomniac Doze". Zwanzig Jahre später gilt es als Wegbereiter und als eines der besten Beispiele dafür, wie die Vorurteile gegenüber Punk in Luft aufgelöst werden. ,Insomniac Doze - Anniversary Edition" feiert das 20-jährige Jubiläum seit der Veröffentlichung von envy's wegweisendem Album. Das Album wurde 2026 von Josh Bonati remastert und erscheint in einer neuen Deluxe-Gatefold-Auflage, die die kompletten Songtexte sowohl auf Englisch als auch auf Japanisch enthält. Es ist die definitive Version eines Albums, das maßgeblich zur Definition eines Genres beigetragen hat.

Berlin, späte 1960er Jahre: Eine geteilte Stadt wird zum Epizentrum einer musikalischen Revolution. Inmitten der Spannungen des Kalten Krieges trat eine Gruppe junger Klangforscher auf den Plan, um die Grenzen der Rockmusik neu zu definieren. Agitation Free, 1967 gegründet, war nie nur eine Band, sondern ein Labor für "Bewegung, Unruhe und Veränderung" - so die Definition des Wortes "Agitation", die ihr Mentor Folke Hanfeld in einem Lexikon gefunden hatte. Von Anfang an fungierte Agitation Free als Knotenpunkt der aufkeimenden "Berliner Schule" der elektronischen Musik. Ihre frühen Proben im Electronic Beat Studio unter der Leitung von Thomas Kessler wurden zum Anziehungspunkt für andere Legenden wie Tangerine Dream und Ash Ra Tempel. Gleichzeitig dienten sie als Sprungbrett für Ausnahmetalente wie Christopher "Chris" Franke (Tangerine Dream) oder den Gitarristen Axel "Ax" Genrich (Guru Guru). Während die Studioalben "Malesch" (1972) und "2nd" (1973) von Agitation Free Meilensteine des Genres sind, war die Bühne der Ort, an dem das "Free" in ihrem Namen wirklich zum Leben erwachte. Ihre Konzerte waren avantgardistische Erlebnisse, die Flüssiglicht-Shows und Experimentalfilme mit hypnotischen, langgezogenen instrumentalen Improvisationen verbanden. Ein Beispiel hierfür ist ihr neues Live-Dokument "Live in Berlin" vom 1. Dezember 2025 aus dem Berliner Kesselhaus, auf dem das aktuelle Line-up zu hören ist: die Gründungsmitglieder Lutz "Lüül" Graf-Ulbrich und Burghard Rausch sowie Michael Hoenig, der sich zwar vom Live-Betrieb zurückgezogen hat, aber "Spiritus Rector" der Band bleibt, zusammen mit Daniel Cordes, Axel Heilhecker und Tim Sund. Wie Michael Hoenig einmal feststellte, ist die Musik von Agitation Free eine "Zeitmaschine, die Vergangenheit und Zukunft verbindet". Die Magie lebt weiter.