quête:dj funk 1

DJ Support: Workforce, Lenzman, LSB, Doc Scott, Jubei.

Rosebay Music returns with its 4th release: a signature soul record from label boss Submorphics and LA soul artist Upper Reality. Two unique slices of D&B funk for the late summer.

Michael Mayer albums don’t come round too often, which is one of many reasons why his fourth collection, The Floor Is Lava, is a genuine event. It’s been eight years since his last one, the collaborative & released on !K7; its predecessors, Mantasy (2012) and Touch (2004), took their sweet time, too. It’s no real surprise, given the many hats Mayer wears – globetrotting DJ, revered remixer, inveterate collaborator, and boss of both Kompakt and Imara – that his solo productions are relatively sparing. But this also speaks to their quality: Mayer’s name on a record sleeve is a sign of quality, of music that’s both looking to the future and calling back to the past, that balances the imperatives of the dancefloor and the loungeroom, that’s as exploratory as it is functional.

On The Floor Is Lava, Mayer seems to be taking the temperature of both the music that surrounds him (past and present), and the ides of the industry he works within. There’s that iconic album title, for a start. “The album’s mindset,” he says, reflecting on those four words together. For Mayer, it’s partly a critique of the way the industry boxes in both producer and listener, focuses them on genre, on market, on the next new thing: “Being a free minded spirit that transcends genres has become an uphill battle.” A battle worth fighting, though, and with The Floor Is Lava, the result is an album that’s varied, quixotic, idiosyncratic, charming, and deeply, addictively listenable.

Throughout, Mayer finds thrills in exploration and juxtaposition, allowing unexpected things to blossom and giving them their life, their platform, throwing the listener exciting curveballs: “It’s a DJ album by a DJ that’s easily bored.” Either easily bored, or endlessly curious, The Floor Is Lava is rich with ideas. It opens with “The Problem”, which looks back to look forward, embracing the rickety way early house productions threw samples together with gleeful abandon. Mayer mentions Pal Joey, and the scene around Rockers Hi-Fi and their Different Drummer imprint, as reference points, and you can hear that freewheeling spirit throughout.

It’s followed by “Vagus”, a slinky, sensual minimal house number that Mayer describes as his “musical catnip”. The flow of these two opening cuts defines the dynamic of The Floor Is Lava, defining the dialectical drive at its core: thesis and antithesis leads to synthesis, but with a welcome prickliness that means you’re always excited, always engaged. It’s also productive in the way it derives energy from rubbing genres and sounds against each other, in unexpected ways, for maximum musical frisson. There’s psychedelic techno on “Feuerstuhl”, more minimal techno with “Ardor” (Mayer mentions ‘Immer 1’ era 90s minimal as inspiration), slippery, Shepard-tone breakbeat through “Sycophant”, a lovely, lush vocal turn on the poppy “The Solution”.

The album closes with the melancholy “Süßer Schlaf”, where Mayer sets a poem by Goethe to one of his most haunted, moving pieces of music yet, in abstract tribute to a lost friend. It’s one of the most affecting moments on The Floor Is Lava. There’s also an update on 2020’s wild Brainwave Technology EP, with the surrealist glitter-stomp of “Brainwave 2.0” (check out those handclaps!),where Mayer’s thinking about the socio-political precipice of the now: “I’m reading with great interest about this whole complex of how humanity is about to cross so many lines and the implications that the resulting financial and educational inequality will bring.”

That’s The Floor Is Lava: then and now, brainwaves and nerve structures, problems and solutions, genres on fire; the real, the unreal, and the surreal. An album for the easily bored and the endlessly curious. Mayer has the last word, telling us all you need to know about the album’s spirit: “Burning for the cause, being zealous, being addicted to the heat of the night, the exuberant powers of music.”

Michael Mayer veröffentlicht nicht oft Alben, was einer von vielen Gründen ist, warum ‘The Floor Is Lava’ ein echtes Ereignis ist. Es sind acht Jahre vergangen seit seinem letzten Werk, dem Kollaborationsalbum &, das auf !K7 erschien; seine Vorgänger, Mantasy (2012) und Touch (2004), ließen ebenfalls auf sich warten. Es überrascht nicht wirklich, da Mayer viele Rollen gleichzeitig erfüllt – weltreisender DJ, vielbeschäftigter Remixer, unermüdlicher Kollaborateur und Chef von sowohl Kompakt als auch Imara – weshalb seine Solo-Produktionen eher sparsam ausfallen. Doch das spricht auch für deren Qualität: Ein Album mit Mayers Namen auf dem Cover steht für Qualität, für Musik, die sowohl in die Zukunft blickt als auch auf die Vergangenheit verweist, die das Gleichgewicht zwischen den Anforderungen des Dancefloors und des Wohnzimmers hält, die genauso erforschend wie funktional ist.

Auf The Floor Is Lava scheint Mayer sowohl die Musik um ihn herum (vergangen und gegenwärtig) als auch die Strömungen der Branche, in der er arbeitet, zu reflektieren. Da wäre zunächst der ikonische Albumtitel. „Die Grundhaltung des Albums“, sagt er, drückt sich in diesen vier Worte aus. Für Mayer ist es teilweise eine Kritik daran, wie die Industrie sowohl Produzenten als auch Hörer in Schubladen steckt, sie auf Genres, auf den Markt und auf das nächste große Ding fokussiert: „Ein freier Geist zu sein, der Genres überschreitet, ist zu einem steinigen Weg geworden.“ Ein Kampf, der sich jedoch lohnt, und mit The Floor Is Lava ist das Ergebnis ein Album, das vielfältig, eigenwillig, charmant und tiefsinnig, aber auch süchtig machend ist.

Im gesamten Album findet Mayer Freude an der Erforschung und Gegenüberstellung von Stilen, lässt unerwartete Dinge erblühen und gibt ihnen Raum, überrascht den Hörer mit spannenden Wendungen: „Es ist ein DJ-Album von einem DJ, der sich schnell langweilt.“ Entweder langweilt er sich schnell oder er ist unendlich neugierig – The Floor Is Lava ist reich an Ideen. Es beginnt mit „The Problem“, das in die Vergangenheit blickt, um nach vorne zu schauen, und die wilde Art, wie frühe House-Produktionen Samples mit fröhlicher Unbekümmertheit zusammenwarfen, aufgreift. Mayer nennt Pal Joey und die Szene um Rockers Hi-Fi und ihr Label Different Drummer als Referenzpunkte, und dieser freie Geist zieht sich durch das gesamte Album.

Es folgt „Vagus“, eine sinnliche Minimal-House-Nummer, die Mayer als seine „musikalische Katzenminze“ beschreibt. Der Fluss dieser beiden Eröffnungstracks definiert die Dynamik von The Floor Is Lava und den dialektischen Antrieb im Kern: These und Antithese führen zu einer Synthese, jedoch mit einer willkommenen Schärfe, die dafür sorgt, dass man immer aufgeregt und engagiert bleibt. Zudem gewinnt das Album Energie, indem es Genres und Klänge auf unerwartete Weise aneinanderreibt, um maximalen musikalischen Nervenkitzel zu erzeugen. Es gibt psychedelischen Techno in „Feuerstuhl“, mehr Minimal Techno mit „Ardor“ (Mayer erwähnt ‘Immer’ Ära Minimal als Bezugspunkt), gleitenden Shepard-Ton-Breakbeat in „Sycophant“ und einen lieblichen, üppigen Vocal-Auftritt im poppigen „The Solution“.

Das Album schließt mit dem melancholischen „Süßer Schlaf“, in dem Mayer ein Gedicht von Goethe vertont und eine seiner bisher eindringlichsten und bewegendsten musikalischen Kompositionen schafft, als abstrakten Tribut an eine verschiedene Freundin. Es ist einer der ergreifendsten Momente auf The Floor Is Lava. Ebenfalls gibt es ein Update der wilden Brainwave Technology-EP von 2020, mit dem surrealistischen Glitzer-Stampfer „Brainwave 2.0“ (hör dir diese Handclaps an!), in dem Mayer über den sozio-politischen Abgrund der Gegenwart nachdenkt: „Ich lese mit großem Interesse über diesen ganzen Komplex, wie die Menschheit dabei ist, so viele Grenzen zu überschreiten und welche Auswirkungen die daraus resultierende finanzielle und bildungstechnische Ungleichheit haben wird.“

Das ist The Floor Is Lava: Damals und heute, Gehirnwellen und Nervengeflechte, Probleme und Lösungen, brennende Genres; das Reale, das Unreale und das Surreale. Ein Album für die schnell Gelangweilten und die unendlich Neugierigen. Mayer hat das letzte Wort und sagt uns alles, was wir über den Geist des Albums wissen müssen: „Brennen für die Sache, leidenschaftlich sein, süchtig nach der Hitze der Nacht, den überschwänglichen Kräften der Musik.“

Sundries has already established the now well-known "Disco Goodies" series, with the fourth VA compilation in a row featuring obscure disco and boogie gems that cater to diverse tastes and occasions. This series is dedicated in memory of Juan Vargas aka Sould Out who sadly passed away 2 years ago. This 6-tracks EP kicks off with "Soul Driven Dynamics" by Berobreo, which opens dramatically, setting a curious tone as it builds tension, leaving us anticipating a resolution that arrives unexpectedly in the form of a loose, seductive soul sample cut. Oldchap brings a touch of sunshine with groovy, free-flowing track "Coloridos", that carry the happy spirit of latin disco, perfect for enriching any feel-good DJ set. "Still Come Home" by X Gets The Crest wraps up the A-side, combining a baritone sax and funky bassline into a well-balanced blend of styles. The B-side ventures into Afrobeat house with "People Says" by Alexny, featuring hand-drummed rhythms and chanted vocals layered over solid kicks. Sould Out delivered another boogie-funk gem with the excellent "City Gal", while Workerz closes the EP with "Since You Came" an uplifting track filled with soulful vibes and heartfelt expression.

Limited Edition! The "LaBush - Temple of House" Volume 2 Vinyl Box Set for the 30th Anniversary of the Legendary Club!

Barely six months after the phenomenal success of the first box set, La Bush - Temple of House makes history once again, celebrating its 30th anniversary with the release of Volume 2 in a limited edition 10x12" vinyl box set. A true must-have for collectors and electronic music enthusiasts!

This exclusive box set features no less than 35 tracks, an incredible number for a vinyl collection, offering unparalleled pressing quality that guarantees an exceptional listening experience, perfectly suited for any turntable. Each track has been meticulously remastered, preserving the essence of the original versions while enhancing every sonic detail.

The deluxe packaging of this box set is a work of art in itself, designed to captivate the most discerning vinyl lovers. Moreover, with tracksfrom legendary artists like Paul Kalkbrenner, Paul van Dyk, David Guetta, Tomcraft, Oliver Lieb, Matthew Herbert, and La Bush resident Mr. Sam, this box set is an essential treasure.

For those who already own the first box set, this new volume is the perfect opportunity to complete your collection in the best possible way, adding a new centerpiece to your La Bush ensemble.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to add a masterpiece to your vinyl collection. Order now before it's too late!

DJ Support: Grant Nelson, Dr Packer, Purple Disco Machine, Cj Mackintosh, Mark Knight, Sam Divine, Jamie Jones, Funkerman, Vanilla Ace, Roog/Hardsoul

Birdee has managed to carve out quite a path for himself, remixing luminaries such as Aeroplane and Michael Gray, collaborating with legendary singers Barbara Tucker and Angela Johnson, as well as releasing on Glitterbox, Big Love, Nervous and of course Tinted. On his latest single Birdee remakes the Jomanda classic 'Don't You Want My Love' (As sampled later by Felix) in true Birdee style, as a complete disco reinventio, crafting an all original backing of dynamic drums, funky bass and some classy synth and string arrangements that glide across this timeless ear-worm.

This October Jamiroquai celebrates the 30th anniversary of ‘The Return Of The Space Cowboy’. Their second album, it will be reissued as a double-LP set on 140g “moon grey” vinyl and includes Michael Gray’s Good Vibe Zone edit of ‘Space Cowboy’ - which has never been released on a physical product. The packaging has also been re-designed for this anniversary release including foil enhancement of the original cover design.

‘The Return Of The Space Cowboy’ is the follow up album to the band’s huge 1993 debut, ‘Emergency On Planet Earth’. Selling over 3 million copies globally, ‘Emergency On Planet Earth’ put the band on the map with their distinctive sound standing them apart from other popular acts of the time.

‘The Return Of The Space Cowboy’ was released just one year later and was met with great critical and public acclaim. Certified Platinum in the UK, Japan and France, it achieved chart success in multiple countries and spawned the single ‘Space Cowboy’ which remains one of their biggest tracks to date. Critically the album was lauded with Rolling Stone saying "Jamiroquai parlay jazzy soul pop so tight it crackles… Nowadays, when most funk comes out of cans, Jamiroquai's live spark glows", The Guardian said “... this second album sounds like vintage Stevie Wonder and Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, but Kay's vocals are as snappy and engaging as his extrovert persona" and Q magazine said it “combines intricate arrangements with several long, free-form workouts crammed with virtuoso performances".

For many, this album is defined by some of the most complex songwriting the band have ever produced and Jay Kay called it “one of our most creative and accomplished albums”. The process of making the album came with many challenges. Having to recruit a new drummer (after Nick Van Gelder failed to return from holiday), the band were met with second-album syndrome with Kay proclaiming since that lyrics weren’t coming "... because suddenly I wasn't homeless, I had everything I needed. So I found myself creating problems to write about." The songwriting process was complex for the band as Jay Kay was often dissatisfied with the results, leading songs to be scrapped or rewritten, but half-way through recording Kay wrote ‘Space Cowboy’, a song which reflects darker times during the recording session, and it became the catalyst of creative inspiration helping them finish the record. On this 30th anniversary edition of the album Space Cowboy gets a modern dance makeover courtesy of DJ Michael Gray, shedding new light on the track and emphasising it’s already infectious groove.

The album built on the success of ‘Emergency On Planet Earth’ and Jamiroquai have become one of the UK’s most pioneering and ground breaking bands of the past 30 years. Pushing boundaries and bringing jazz and funk to a mainstream audience, their sound is not only unique, but immediately recognisable.

Arriving on transparent blue vinyl, the fourth installation of Figure’s Hardspace series brings six new re-interpretations of Len Faki’s favorites via his Hardspace alias.

Starting with a true classic, the gem that is Josh Wink’s Sixth Sense picks up on the original’s tight plastic groove and creates some serious low end rumble.
A less obvious choice, Aoki Takamasa’s minimalist dub from Japan, gets a complete makeover in the Hardspace edit, using driving percussion to morph the pensive blueprint into an upbeat peaktime slammer.
One of the most iconic basslines of the last decade, DJ Yoav B’s Energize is a standout on its own but paired with the relentless groove of the high-energy Hardspace remix it unlocks new levels of rave potential.
Huxley’s Weapon 3 was maybe one of the darkest tunes ever released on the otherwise house-centric catalogue of UK label Aus, which Len Faki already played back when it was first released. The Hardspace Mix merges a feeling explosive force with the originals sultry ambiance, catapulting the track back onto today’s dancefloors.
Colourful, dubby synth stabs are what keeps the momentum on peak time roller Funktion by French producer Tuttle, which in its Hardspace version packs even more heat, as Faki employs his signature claps and tunes up the original’s enervating siren sound, squeezing out every last drop of energy.
Originally released in the 90ies, Mike Parker’s Shakuhachi Two is as techno as it gets. Only now sounding even more powerful and dynamic, as the Harspace Mix keeps all of the original goodness while stacking additional propulsive percussion for a sweaty floor workout.

Dependency Jazz Conjunction is a record label created by The Torus Trio. The label features music created with a variety of collaborators trained in schools and conservatories around the world. The music is influenced by jazz, techno, house, funk, and American soul. DJC is an open source project, and It will be always open to include new members, such as keyboardists, drummers, and vocalists, through future releases.

Not so long ago in 2017, the first release on Michiel Claus' and Ailsa Cavers' Basic Moves saw the light of day and especially the shine of night. Produced by founding father Walrus, BM01 set the tone for a record label that focuses on releasing hidden archives from the 90s, whilst combining them with modern club music from the here and now. By highlighting the musical heritage of the Belgian electronic music scene, the label illustrates the continuity between past and present, history and shaping identities of 21st-century artists, undeniably building on the strong foundations of their forerunners. Seven years and nineteen releases later, Basic Moves is rounding off the series with BM20, a final double 12'' by one of the major figures from the Belgian underground: Circadian Rhythms also known as Dj Deg. After many years of collecting, deejaying and producing music, his musical spectrum ranges from synth, library and wave, to jazz, funk and disco, from house to techno. His journey started in clubs like Bocaccio (1988 - 1993), and La Gait? (1979 -1989), where young Deg came across deejay's like Olivier Pieters or Eric Beysens who made him choose the path of becoming a devoted disc jockey himself. BM20 is a sonic witness of Deg's first musical encounters with his machines, revealing a withdrawn selection of six bedroom patchwork tracks produced between the years of '93 & '99, a time without the internet or user manuals to help you solve the riddles of technology. Though only at the very beginning of his creative process, Deg's unique personality is nevertheless already clearly identifiable: blending techno with jazz, where the sharp edges of 16-step drum-sequences are smudged and bent in different directions. In the lower countries, the second half of the 90s was a period of fast & funky, happy Detroit, 140 BPM techno. Whenever Deg was not oscillating between record shops or gigs and had a moment on his own, mostly during morning hours after the club, he would spend his leftover energy in the studio. Either by himself or with his loyal ally Mike DMA, he would benefit from these moments to slow down and give space to a different, introverted sound - processing moods, feelings and thoughts. This record therefore gathers only a few of many (unrecorded) one-shot live sessions which were never intended to be shared - and only existed for the love of music and its power to take you beyond all things known. Thank you Deg for sharing your music and giving us a glimpse of your universe. Without your productions, your memorable warm-ups and closing sets - many of us would not be where we are now, and Basic Moves might never have been founded. As a last note to a closing song, BM20 is about being fully committed to the music and the club, a medium and place of fruitful settings for encounters, creativity and growth. Where dreams and ideas have a chance to exist, being almost ready and thought out to shape future times to come - and many party nights. Gurl, December 2023

During the early 1980s, “I Specialize In Love” by the American singer Sharon Brown, who happens to be the niece of the songwriter Phil Medley, gained popularity as a club hit. The track was officially released in March 1982 by the prominent Profile Records label based in New York City. Notably, the song marked the debut production of Eddie O Loughlin, who later went on to establish the renowned Next Plateau label. “I Specialize In Love” achieved a remarkable feat by spending three weeks at number two on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. Its success extended globally as it also charted on the UK Singles Chart and secured a position in the Dutch Top 15, solidifying its status as an international club hit. Moving on from Ben Liebrand’s Classic Rework and his more club-oriented DJ Mix of the track, it’s now time to unleash the Ben Liebrand Le Disco Mixes. You just know from the filtered kick intro, and the funky, ass-shaking bassline to expect an awesome, authentic, disco-fied party jam for today: six and a half minutes of dancefloor delight. all other singles, extended versions only.

Toronto's newest vinyl label, Afalinas, proudly presents its debut EP, crafted by the talented Olekhar. Known for his Ukrainian roots and extensive DJ experience, Olekhar delivers four dance-floor ready tracks. The Fin Groove EP kicks off with "API Call," hitting the perfect blend of tech funk with trancy sequences and flowing tension. Up next is the breaks track "Squat Funk," infused with vibrant electro funk and minimal elements. On the flip side, the dance-floor killer "Bowser's Castle" is sure to elicit maximum stank face with its funky lead, gated acid energy, and robotic vocoder synth, before closing with "WLB," a '90s-influenced breaks track that wraps the package up nicely. Something classy for all occasions.

The Funky French League is a collective of intergenerational DJ’s / producers /
musicians, composed of Young Pulse, Arthur Chaps, Woody Braun, Monsieur
Willy, DJ Asko and Uncle T.
Coming from diverse backgrounds, from hip hop to electronic music, the love of
groove brought them together. Their goal is to promote funk and its derivatives
through parties, mixes, remixes, radio broadcasts...
Much more than a musical style above all, they defend a state of mind:
celebration, diversity, inclusivity, good vibrations and the spirit of the party.
„Shake Your Body Down“ is the perfect follow up single to „Free“ and is a Young
Pulse next level production. Pounding, shaking, uplifting and 150% danceable…

The Chronics is co-manager of the respected Bipolar Disorder and Primal Instinct labels along with Chlar and Alarico, and is known for his mastery of straight-up and compelling grooves and evocative anthems. He has been releasing for over a decade now and shows his versatility again here. This new release makes a debut vinyl offering from the Anglo-Australian Transition label, following millions of digital plays since its inception last summer and support from DJs like FJAAK, Anetha, Daria Kolosova, VTSS and Boys Noize.

Opener 'By My Soul' is a techno pumper with inescapable euphoria built into the diva vocals and the smart synth loops that rise up and up through the mix. It's lean and linear but packed with feelings that burst out of the speakers and hook in your heart. Dublin's Tommy Holohan is blazing an exciting path as a fine new talent who is part of Samba Boys with Kettama and has released on SCDD, Monnom Black and more. His remix is even more maximal, with happy piano stabs dropped in and a funky bassline that brings an all-new vibe.

The Chronics then serve up 'Body Harmony', a slamming but playful cut with a colourful lead synth motif and unrelenting drums. It's warm and energising while also hitting hard, especially during the epic jungle breakdown. Acclaimed techno producer and live artist Obscure Shape recently split from his long-time partner SHDW but is already making waves as a solo talent with a huge batch of unreleased music, including this remix. It's a turbocharged and nimble loop techno offering enriched with Detroit-style machine soul and precision percussion that keeps you hooked.

Die "French Touch Collection" ist eine Doppel-LP-Serie, die der französischen elektronischen Musikszene gewidmet ist. Beeinflusst von neuen Musikgenres wie House, Hip-Hop, Techno und den Rave-Partys, beteiligten sich Mitte der 90er Jahre mehrere französische Produzenten an der Demokratisierung der elektronischen Musik. Ihre Musik, die der britische Journalist Martin James "French Touch" nannte, wurde 1996 zu einem neuen, international bekannten Musikgenre, das sich durch elektronische Produktionen und Musiksamples aus Hip-Hop, Funk oder Disco auszeichnete. Anfang der 2000er Jahre erfand sich die "French Touch"-Szene mit einer neuen Generation ungehemmter Künstler neu, getragen von einem rohen, rocknahen Sound. Die 2010er Jahre brachten eine neue "French Touch"-Welle mit sich, die von der Popmusik beeinflusst war und sich mehr auf Melodien und Oneiric Universes konzentrierte. Dieses neue Werk ist dem House gewidmet, mit Künstlern und Tracks, die zur Entwicklung des "French Touch" beigetragen haben: "Bon voyage"!

A highly talented artist who has grown to make a notable impression amongst the scene’s most revered tastemakers, DJ/producer and label owner Jhobei is an individual who continues to blossom. His deep, expansive sound has already welcomed material on Up The Stuss, Limousine Dream, Mindhelmet and Picnic Records, amongst others, while featuring as a co-founder of London-based collective and label Bizarre Trax. In addition, his work as one-third of dynamic trio Felon5, coupled with his unique sound, has taken him from Albania’s ION Festival to Los Angeles, alongside making a handful of appearances for FUSE and its sister brands on home turf at fabric, The Cause and Village Underground - plus 2024’s Open Air event at Barking Park earlier this year. Building on that relationship, late September brings fresh music as Enzo Siragusa invites the exciting selector to make his label debut with an array of impressive productions across his ‘Age Of Virality’ EP. A-side opener ‘Swarming’ is all action and kicks things off with authority as a snaking bassline guides a garage-influenced trip through bumping low-ends and hooky vocal samples, while ‘Machine Language’ delivers a mix of playful tones amongst sweeping melodies while delivering a heavy dose of robot funk. On the flip, ‘Defusion Solution’ is a heady late-night excursion through skippy percussion and cosmic tones, with ‘Rising Sun’ stripping things back to deliver a classy, hazy journey as organic percussion grooves unravel effortlessly. Digital buyers are treated to a bonus cut in the form of ‘Kontrol Urload’, a sci-fi leaning cut merging glistening neon synth motifs with punchy kicks and zipping effects for maximum impact.

On Savor Music 025, we summoned a fine selection of remixers to rework Franco Cinelli's "Tracks from the Vault Part 2."

"Tribute To Miles Davis," where Cinelli merges jazz and electronic elements into a hypnotic sonic journey was reinterpreted by Chicago Legend DJ Jes adding a trippier, loose house interpretation, infusing the track with an extra jazzy twist while maintaining its original spirit. Pablo Minuto & Guillermo de Caminos made a minimalistic take on the same cut, transforming the track into a groovy, hypnotic experience with a focus on rhythmic and atmospheric elements.

"Electronic Funk" original’s pulsating bassline, crisp percussion, and intertwining synth melodies are further enriched in Jorge Savoretti’s remix, which introduces an extra layer of synth action, giving the track’s a deeper interpretation.

25 killer library music cuts by the German film music maestro on audiophile pressing in deluxe 2x10" set. Uberrare and never released before material from 1968-1976, sourced from Peter Thomas' personal reel-to-reel tape archive. Limited edition of 500 pieces.

From brassy big band funk, space jazz, krauty synth experiments to proto-hiphop, cosmic schlagers, heavy easy listening, soulful soundtrack moods and absurdly dreamy LSD ballads, this compilation encompasses the composer's most obscure and yet most transcendent work.

Peter Thomas is widely acknowledged as Germany's most inventive film music composer of the 1960s and 1970, best known for his iconic soundtrack work. He scored over 600 films and episodes, from the crime blockbusters of Jerry Cotton and Edgar Wallace to indie arthouse films like Playgirl, Bruce Lee's The Big Boss and the extraterrestrial Space Patrol and Chariot of the Gods.

His recordings for music libraries often provided an even more leftfield approach. Their visionary 'dope beats' appeal provoked a keen interest from vinyl aficionados, beatmakers and rare groove DJs alike. Unavailable for the public, the original "for professional usage only" albums are now sought-after collector's items that fetch astronomic prices on the 2ndhand market.

This double 10" album is the definite selection of Thomas' best library cues from the Golden Ring Records, KPM and DeWolfe catalogues, many of them available publicly for the first time - plus four recently unearthed "lost" tracks from Warner Chappell's CPM Archive series that have never been released on vinyl before. All music was carefully transferred from Peter Thomas' private master tapes and cut in full dynamics, housed in a beautiful fold-out cover with liner notes and private pictures. The compilation was realised in cooperation with Peter Thomas' son Philip who takes care of the Peter Thomas Sound Orchester catalogue after his father's death in 2020.

Hailing from Playa Del Carmen, Mexico our dude Hotmood keeps it funky with his 'Baby Come Down EP'! Hot off his multi pressing sellout release on Blur Records Hotmood gets straight to the funk with the title track 'Baby Come Down'. All heat for your feet for this jam! House music legend DJ Sneak comes correct with his bangin floor stomper B.B.B. (Big Boss Bizness) Remix of 'Baby Come Down'. Peak time biz right here, bang it out! Back to the Hotmood sure fire floor filler 'Disco Lady' with baseline for days, and a catchy spoken word over steamy funk filled disco heat. Natural Rhythm kicks in the cruise control as we hit high velocity with a deep and funky slice & dice of 'Disco Lady'. Heavy drum work and tight percussion is the call with this cleverly woven gem that’ll fill the floor and get em moving! Next up we have the House music icon Nail of Robsoul, Classic and Diy fame with his 'Fleng EP'.

Hello 24! Nice to have you here. 23 is so yesterday, so over the top, really. Well, we’ve been dancing the following dances recently. What about you?

What lasts a long time usually turns out well. Having admired TEE MANGO from afar for many years, our A&R Michael Mayer took heart and invited him to this year’s TOTAL. “So In Love” is in the best tradition of the KOMPAKT minimal funk of the early years. We are delighted to have this lovely Englishman on board!

REINHARD VOIGT has always placed great emphasis on loving animals. On the track with the unsurprising title “Der, der mit dem Gummiball sang (Orange)”, he lets whole hordes of different four-legged friends and poultry on the microphone. Hopefully the stench will dissipate from the studio.

When Rhenish cheerfulness meets holiday anticipation, the result is something like this Hawaiian shirt turned music called “Chee-Caruso” by JÜRGEN PAAPE. No animals were tortured for this piece either, even if it sounds like it.

We stay in the realm of fauna and turn our attention to London’s award-winning pedigree dog REX THE DOG. “Laika” is a heart-warming ode to the mongrel dog of the same name, who was the first living creature to make it from the streets of Moscow into space. She would have loved that bleep.

A little-known fact about MICHAEL MAYER is that he is one of the fastest crossword puzzle foxes on the left bank of the Rhine, always in relentless rivalry with Wolfgang Voigt, who thinks he is even faster. The big battle is yet to come. Uninvited guest with five letters? “Urian”.

As an integral part of the family, JONATHAN KASPAR is of course not to be missed. “Are You” celebrates the kind of early morning rapture that is commonplace at his new DJ venue, the brand new Cologne superclub FI. Everything is so colourful here.

SASCHA FUNKE takes a bow to one of the greats of German showbiz with the trippy electro smasher “The Heck”. Born – like DJ Koze and Barnt – in Flensburg, died in Berlin in 2018 and wore glasses. More will not be revealed.

More emotion, more love, more sing-along factor? Si, claro! ARGIA’s “Love Keeps You Running” masterfully combines groove and pop – a blend that sounds very familiar to us. She may be at home in Madrid, but there’s Cologne DNA in her somewhere. We’re sure of it.

Let’s meet the legends, the veterans! JÖRG BURGER is still in a psychedelic mood in 2024. That suits him, that’s where he needs to be, that’s where we want him to be. A parallel universe is conceivable in which such music is affectionately called Goa.

Before going to bed, the WASSERMANN reads us a fairy tale from the Arabian Nights. At the same time, we focus on a point between everything, but really everything, and absolute, stark naked nothingness. 3, 2, 1… Let go.

Hallo 24! Schön, dass du da bist. 23 ist ja sowas von gestern, geht gar nicht, echt. Also, bei uns tanzt man neuerdings die folgenden Tänze. Und bei Euch?

Was lange währt, wird meist gut. Schon seit vielen Jahren aus der Ferne TEE MANGO bewundernd, hat sich unser A&R Michael Mayer ein Herz gefasst und ihn zur diesjährigen TOTAL eingeladen. “So In Love” steht in bester Tradition des kompaktschen Minimal Funk der frühen Jahre. Wir freuen uns, den quirligen Engländer an Bord zu haben!

Tierliebe wird im Hause REINHARD VOIGT schon immer groß geschrieben. Auf dem Stück mit dem nicht weiter verwunderlichen Titel “Der, der mit dem Gummiball sang (Orange)” lässt er gleich ganze Horden verschiedenster Vierbeiner und Federvieh ans Mikro. Hoffentlich zieht der Gestank wieder aus dem Studio ab.

Wenn rheinischer Frohsinn auf Urlaubsvorfreude trifft, dann kommt so etwas wie dieses Musik gewordene Hawaiihemd namens “Chee-Caruso” von JÜRGEN PAAPE heraus. Auch für diesen Beitrag wurden garantiert keine Tiere gequält, auch wenn es allenthalben so klingt.

Wir bleiben im Reich der Fauna und wenden uns London’s preisgekröntem Rassehund REX THE DOG zu. “Laika” ist eine herzerwärmende Ode an die gleichnamige Mischlingshündin, die es von den Strassen Moskaus als erstes Lebewesen ins All geschafft hat. Den Bleep hätte sie bestimmt gemocht.

Eine wenig bekannte Tatsache über MICHAEL MAYER ist, dass er zu den schnellsten Kreuzworträtsel-Füchsen links des Rheins zählt, stets in unbarmherziger Rivalität zu Wolfgang Voigt, der sich für noch schneller hält. Der große Battle steht noch aus. Ungebetener Gast mit fünf Buchstaben? “Urian”.

Als fester Bestandteil der Familie darf natürlich auch JONATHAN KASPAR nicht fehlen. “Are You” zelebriert frühmorgendliche Entrückungszustände, wie sie in seiner neuen DJ-Wirkungsstätte, dem nigelnagelneuen Kölner Superclub FI Gang und Gäbe sind. Alles so schön bunt hier.

SASCHA FUNKE verneigt sich mit dem trippy Electrosmasher “The Heck” vor einem der ganz Großen des deutschen Showbiz. Geboren – wie DJ Koze und Barnt – in Flensburg, gestorben 2018 in Berlin, Brillenträger. Mehr wird nicht verraten.

Mehr Gefühl, mehr Liebe, mehr Mitsing-Faktor? Si, claro! ARGIA’s “Love Keeps You Running” vereint meisterlich Groove und Pop – eine Melange, die uns durchaus bekannt vorkommt. Sie mag zwar in Madrid zuhause sein, aber irgendwo steckt in ihr eine Kölsche. Da sind wir uns sicher.

Auf zu den Legenden, den Urgesteinen! JÖRG BURGER zeigt sich auch in 2024 in einem psychedelischen Mood. Das steht ihm, da muss er hin, da wollen wir ihn haben. Es ist ein Paralleluniversum denkbar, in dem solche Musik liebevoll Goa genannt wird.

Der WASSERMANN liest uns vor dem Schlafengehen noch ein Märchen aus Tausendundeine Nacht vor. Wir fokussieren uns gleichzeitig auf einen Punkt zwischen allem, aber auch wirklich allem und dem absoluten, splitterfasernackten Nichts. 3, 2, 1… Loslassen

Markantonio's record label, AnalyticTrail, proudly presents "Groove Impact," an dynamic techno EP by young Irish talent CULT, known for his fast-paced rhythms sequenced into jackin' grooves.

CULT, one of Europe's most talked-about young talents, has a raw style defined by intricate synths creating upbeat machine-funk. Influenced by '90s techno, his music perfectly blends captivating atmosphere with driving energy. Known for his warm, punchy basslines and tribal drum patterns, CULT's tracks are already staples at Vault Sessions events and are championed by DJs like Alarico and Future666 among others.

Founded in 2001 and based in Naples, Italy, AnalyticTrail has been pivotal in shaping the Neapolitan techno sound. A cornerstone of the scene, the label has achieved great success with
its groovy, dancefloor-engineered tracks. With "Groove Impact," AnalyticTrail returns to its roots restarting vinyl releases driven by the desire to produce timeless music that endures on physical formats, just like in the good old days. The label has also started signing techno that puts a contemporary spin on the classic hardgroove style that first brought it success in the early '00s.

The EP opens with A1 "Jumpin' Traxx," featuring cowbells and a dramatic hip hop vocal sample layered over a throbbing bassline to create an upbeat groove. On A2, "High Pressure" follows with booming percussion, fizzing ride cymbals, dystopian synths, and invigorating vocal stabs. B1 features "Anotha Beat," combining hypnotic vocal tones, relentless percussion, and intense synth stabs. The release closes with B2 "Brass Tac," offering a jazz-infused groove built around a live percussion loop.

"MAKE LIFE FUNKY" brings peak hour hands-in-the-air vibes as GETTOBLASTER mans the controls, while ROLAND CLARK dispenses some solid life-advice on the mic. Phenomenal remix support covering wide stylistic ground from DJ SNEAK, KEVIN & DANTIEZ SAUNDERSON, and AMINE EDGE & DANCE.

DJ Support: Louie Vega, Ralf Gum, Jihad Muhammad, Zepherin Saint, Mr. V, Doug Gomez DjPope, DJ Beloved & Brutha Basil to name a few.

Sean McCabe’s Good Vibrations Music label opens the vault doors for a peek inside some of its closely guarded & much-loved releases courtesy of this special limited edition 12 inch. Featuring 4 new to vinyl releases & including a raft of luminary names from across the soulful spectrum this is sure to be a be a hot fave with long standing fans of the label.

Glenn Underground’s Jazz-Funk fuelled rework of 'This Place' kicks things off and needs no introduction… heavily supported & much loved through the soulful circles & beyond with the likes of Louie Vega, Dave Lee, Jimpster, Jamie 3:26 & Fred Everything (to name a few!) all loudly banging the drum – people have been clamouring for this to be on vinyl. You spoke, we listened!

Up next is 'Modulate', a collaborative force of the highest order between Sean & long-time friend Black Sonix. Expertly fuzzying the lines across Deep, Soulful & House is somewhat of a speciality for the duo respectively and there’s bags of all 3 intertwined throughout alongside a hefty sprinkling of sun-kissed, Latino-inspired pianos.

'Still Standing Here' kicks things off on the B-side and begin in March 2022 as vocalist Madeeha recorded an accapella vocal idea in a phone voice message, quietly singing into her phone to avoid waking the neighbours. She sent the idea to drum & bass producer from Bristol, DJ Mixjah, who then approached friend Sean McCabe with the idea. Together they produced a hypnotic afro-tinged soulful backing track to fit with the voice message, with an intention to re-record it in a studio environment. Sean and Mixjah soon realised that the music they had created blended perfectly with the sincerity, intimacy & rawness of Madeeha's heartfelt performance in the original voice message and decided to stick with it. A firm fave for Atjazz, Crackazat , DJ Spen & Emmaculate.

Wrapping things up is 'You Don’t Know', a slick & energetic dancefloor bubbler from London based producer/DJ ‘David Bailey’ and Canadian soulful songstress ‘MissFly’. David Bailey is a firm favourite amongst the London house music community. He’s produced standout releases on labels such as Idris Elba's 7wallace, Makin Moves, Good Vibrations Music, Rhemi Music & Unquantize. MissFly is known for her soulful serenades and ability to write songs 'on the fly' in the studio. She has carved out an impressive discography on soulful house nuggets such as '1972,' 'Wanna Love You' and 'Thankful'

DJ Support: Louie Vega, Dimitri From Paris, Danny Krivit, Michael Gray, Dr. Packer, Terry Hunter, Kevin Yost, Reel People, Mr V, Bobby & Steve, Derrick McKenzie and many others…

Micky More & Andy Tee’s Groove Culture looks back to go forward as it offers up a spiffing new 7 Inch of contemporary reworks of 2 classics Jazz Funk cuts. The A-Side features a special cover dj-friendly of Lonnie Liston Smith’s HIT Expansions. The B-Side Showcases a beautiful remake, sung by Angela Johnson, of 'Time' by Light Of The World

Arp Frique returns with a brand new release on his imprint Colorful World Records in collaboration with Rush Hour. A compilation of 12 Cape Verdean gems assembled with the help and knowledge of Americo Brito, there is a very special story behind it. Americo Brito, who features on Arp Frique’s original Nos Magia, is a proud and important member of the Cape Verdean community in Rotterdam. His story reveals the historical connections between radio, vinyl, Cabo Verde and Rotterdam’s international music scene in the 70s and 80s. Cape Verdean insiders say “we export all they have to other countries, only to import it back again”. Cape Verdeans have migrated all over the world, mainly to cities with big harbours, like New York, Boston and Rotterdam (Holland). Rotterdam became one of the main destinations (next to Portugal) on the European mainland. When Americo, like many of his friends and relatives moved to Rotterdam, he quickly became infected with the music virus. Surrounded on a daily basis by Cape Verdean music in Portuguese pensions and small hotels, this was where sailors ingested a dose of “sodade” through the interpretations of their beloved music by the local Cape Verdean artists. Americo took to the stage with his band Djarama in the 70s and 80s. The live music scene was buzzing and the Cape Verdean community had their own infrastructure for arranging shows, often in nightclubs where the band had to bring their own soundsystem. Interestingly, Americo didn’t stick to performing and recording music. He found another way to help spread the Cape Verdean magical secret of music across Rotterdam, Holland and beyond: “There was this spot in Rotterdam where all foreign radio stations were housed, all these different nationalities together, Surinam, Cape Verdean, Hindustani…Guy Ramos and some of my other friends made radio in the 80s there. I got involved in their radio activities. Later on I started to work as a technician and eventually as producer and radio DJ for “Radio Voz De Cabo Verde”. Radio became bigger and there were around 4 different Cape Verdean stations active at one point in Rotterdam. instrumental in the development of this was the attic of a Dutch friend, where “Radio Babalu” came to life. Radio has always held a special place in my heart.” Americo’s music collection stems from this era, also aided by his many travels across Europe to cities with Cape Verdean communities. Alongside Rotterdam local, Arp Frique, Americo unveils some of these songs: dancefloor hits and beloved radio gems known in the Cape Verdean scene by younger and older generations alike, and so far undiscovered by a “bigger” audience. The compilation showcases the worldly view of Cape Verdean music, incorporating knowledge from their travels in their compositions. It ranges from the obvious funana and coladeira, to the more unexpected influences of deep disco, new wave, uptempo reggae, jazz-funk and Brazilian pop music; demonstrating just the tip of the iceberg, but what an amazing t(r)ip it is!

Fortunea Records is thrilled to present 2 great Italian producers for its 33rd record. DJ Rocca & Mike Riviera will release their 4 tracks packed Night Jamz EP this spring on the Austrian label to shake up the dancefloors with their combined power of raw and snappy warehouse grooves.

The former is a living legend! He began his career in the late 1990s with drum’n’bass-, breakbeat- and future jazz productions under the brand Maffia Soundsystem, which was also a club in Italy where he was the main resident dj. What followed was an impressive work history in the house and disco scene with many memorable tracks and collaborations with artists such as Dimitri From Paris as Erodiscotique or Marcello Giordani under the moniker Supersonic Lovers.

Michele Tessadri aka Mike Riviera resides in Berlin and is mostly known for his italo disco inspired productions with Luc Sauvage. But he released also solo under pseudonyms such as Fratelli Riviera on the labels Slow Motion and Bear Funk and occasionally works on impressive edits of disco- and funk records.

The Night Jamz EP will come out on all the digital stores and streaming services on may 24, 2024 and will be available on limited vinyl shortly after.

DJ Support: Dave Lee, Mousse T, Mark Knight, Michael Gray, Eric Kupper, Kenny Carpenter, David Harness, Seamus Haji, Melvo Baptists, John Morales, Julius Papp, Dj Romain, Luis Radio, Birdee, Lego and many others…

Groove Culture on going ‘jams’ series of compilation style vinyl EPs has long been a reliable source of disco-house fired excellence, and this 4th edition is another high-quality affair. Package incl. Music from Micky More & Andy Tee, Reverendos Of Soul, Soulista, Serge Funk and Right To Life.

2026 Repress

DJ Support: Dr Packer, Aston Shuffle, Fdel, All Good Funk Alliance, Fingerman, Jordan Lee, Jsquared

2 more slices of Hip Hop & R&B mash-up gold on 45 via CC.

Repress !

Heavy House Society starts 2022 with a high quality EP from Cologne based German artist DJOKO, and this also comes with a remix from the head honcho himself Sidney Charles.

DJOKO’s sound takes influences from funk & soul, garage, deep house and everything else in between that is both underground and raw. He’s released on an impressive selection of underground labels like PIV, Berg Audio, Talman and Rutilence, garnering numerous genre number 1’s on the download stores whilst also accruing over 11 million streams on Spotify alone.

For his debut release on Heavy House Society, we bring you his Rapture EP. The title track to the EP, Rapture is a classy deep and minimal house affair, with his house beats combining with a driving bassline, the cleverly constructed filters organs and pads giving this a sublime journey feel.

The second track is Inside of Me, which has more a skip to the beats, weighty bassline, and well worked samples. Add the lead melody line and this is a great track to get people moving.

The third track is My Crib, a bassline led track with an old school flavour to it which combines atmospheric pads which provide depth, delicate and intricate melodies and leads.

The last track is the Sidney Charles remix of My Crib, for his remix he takes this a little deeper which offers a great alternative to the excellent original mix. A more sub bass groove free’s up frequencies in the mix giving more space for the melodies to breathe in the track and take this on a stunning floating groove.

This is a superb release featuring 2 amazing artists, and for sure this with deliver the goods for Heavy House Society yet again

2024 Repress

Lars Huismann is back on Mutual Rytm with the much-anticipated third volume of his 'Sounds From The Past' trilogy.

A core part of SHDW & Obscure Shape's ever more crucial Mutual Rytm imprint thanks to his timeless techno offerings as part of his ongoing 'Sounds From The Past' series, Berlin-based DJ/producer Lars Huismann's stock continues to rise release by release as a talent merging influences from the past with forward-thinking nuances of the future. Drawing on the early 2000 techno sound, he embellishes it with his own perspective, as evidenced by his earlier releases on the label. This latest six-track offering is another accomplished outing from this unique talent as he concludes the three-part series on the label in style.

The title track 'Sound From The Past III' opens up with a finely filtered chord groove that provides a smooth and hypnotising foundation. A subtle bassline, buoyant kick drums, and embedded vocal patterns harmonise with the synths, unveiling a smooth linear groove that soon sweeps you up.

'Fusion' brings more intensity with its barreling drum kicks, a dirty driving bassline, and melodies flashing by like headlights on an intergalactic motorway, with the overhanging pent-up energy inescapable. Next, 'Shimmer' rides on vast, heavy layered drums that are warm, and comforting as the track travels through a journey of diverse dub techno elements.

Like in 'Loucura', taken from 'Sounds From The Past II', Lars again showcases his strong influences from Brazilian and Latin music. On 'Estar Farto', the drums and bass are tightly interwoven, racing beneath bright and funky synth lines that bring ever-evolving shades of colour. A jazz drummer himself, the music transports into the groove via intelligent brass chord progressions and fine-tuned vocal and percussion elements.

It's straight dance floor business on the closing vinyl production 'Bittersweet', with its muted synth smears darting over more macho drum programming, while digital bonus 'Dusty Lick' is an unrelenting, jazzy, percussion-driven banger that hits hard and heavy in all the right places.

2024 Repress

Chontane returns to Mutual Rytm with a more raw and aggressive sound than before across six powerful new tracks on his latest EP, 'Permanent'.

Berlin-based Ukrainian DJ/producer Chontane has had a busy twelve months. Capped off by recently launching his own new TANE label, the exciting talent has been working hard to reinvent and refresh his sound in the studio. Mastering new techniques to push things to the next level, this EP and return to SHDW & Obscure Shape's Mutual Rytm proves he has succeeded and then some. Where previous works on the likes of ARTS and Rekids were full and more melodic, here he has restricted himself and gone for a more visceral sound. Developed and built in all new ways with an innovative approach to sound design and arrangement, the tracks on the package showcase a more serious and harder-hitting side to his sound as he unveils his impactful 'Permanent' EP.

Opener 'Graze' has a monstrous feel to it, with ghoulish synth loops and industrial textures all coming on strong and heavy. As it bangs along, incendiary hi-hats and lithe pads all bring extra weight and detail. 'Cumaru' is a highpaced techno workout with a frenzy of synths and percussion, all making for dense layers of heavily textured sound. 'Schima' brings some big techno bounce in the drums and more hurried, rusty synth loops that lock you into the darkness. Showing yet another side, 'Lauan' is a little more paired back with pounding tribal grooves and bright synths, bringing relentless yet funk-fuelled intensity. 'Vevis' is the most melodic of the lot - a heavy track but with subtle optimism in the rising background synths that will surely get hands in the air.

Last of all is digital bonus 'Makore', a cauldron of intensity with scraping hits and relentless drums, vastly oversized hi-hats and slamming bass. This high-impact, beautifully brutal yet groove-heavy techno takes Chontane's sound into new realms, and delivers an impressive return on a label continuing to push the genre forward.

If you're looking for some summer fire from the Soul-Funk-Disco world then look no further than this new from Micky More & Andy Tee. Groove Culture Bosses teamed up with Angela Johnson and Dj Meme Orchestra for the cover of the classic Rose Royce's song 'Is It Love You're After'. Strings, Horns, synthesizers, guitars, bass etc... All here is played live, more than twenty musicians worked on this project. 'Is It Love You're After' is a track that contains the beauty and the essence of Soul-Funk-Disco: Instrumentation and vocals of the highest level. Package sees Legendary New York City DJ Danny Krivit providing a dj-friendly edit for the dancefloor plus a housy Mix From Da Lukas. A MUST HAVE!

Hilit Kolet returns to Rekids for the ‘Snap Talk’ EP. It follows her ‘Hot Mess’ single for the storied imprint and features Kameelah Waheed's vocals on the title track.

Continuing her hugely successful run of 2024 releases, Hilit Kolet returns to Radio Slave’s revered Rekids label with the two-tracker ‘Snap Talk’, following in the footsteps of ‘Hot Mess’ (Rekids) and ‘Everything Is Amazing’ (Bush).

The two dancefloor favourites won DJ support from Laurent Garnier, TSHA, HAAi, Maya Jane Coles, Roman Flügel, Chloé Caillet, Jennifer Cardini and countless others while earning an extended string of radio plays from Danny Howard, Jamz Supernova and Sarah Story, who tapped Hilit for a Future Dance Mix.

For ‘Snap Talk,’ the fast-rising East London DJ and producer turns in yet another drop of striking, jackin’ power-house, this time propelled by Brazillian baile funk rhythms, a homage to her days as a samba dancer at London’s Notting Hill Carnival. Fellow Rekids alumnus Kameelah Waheed's seductive spoken-word vocals ride and push the driving 909-fuelled number, and the result is an outstanding 2 AM track that seriously cuts through the noise.

On the flip, Hilit’s ‘Gate 33’ combines tightly looped percussion opening up into a naggingly insistent drum-heavy cut that employs favela funk-patterned cowbells, a throbbing bottom end and a mix of passionate vocal and unnerving airport announcement samples to create an utterly compulsive late-night groove. Hilit Kolet has been integral to London’s underground scene ever since she was slinging vinyl at Soho’s legendary Black Market Records. Her distinctive, energetic DJ style established her behind the decks, playing everywhere from Ibiza to Berlin via Shanghai and Oslo.

Ever since he made his first trip to Japan to DJ, Optimo Music founder JD Twitch has been bewitched by Japanese music, and particularly the vibrant, imaginative, and often far-sighted sounds which emerged from the island nation during the 1980s. Now he’s put years of digging in Japanese record shops to good use on Polyphonic Cosmos, the latest release on his compilation-focused Cease & Desist imprint.

Subtitled ‘A Beginners Guide to Japan In The ‘80s’, the collection offers a personal selection of Japanese gems recorded and released between 1981 and ’86 – a period when advances in recording and musical technology offered the nation’s artists and producers a whole new tool kit to employ. When combined with the unique musical culture of Japan, where local traditions are frequently fused with Western styles to create timeless, off-kilter aural fusions, this embrace of locally pioneered music technology had spectacular, often unusual results.

Eight years in the making, Polyphonic Cosmos provides an endlessly entertaining musical snapshot of Japanese music of the early-to-mid ‘80s with all of the open-minded eclecticism and sonic twists that you would expect from the Glasgow-based DJ.

Compare and contrast, for example, the gently breezy, morning-fresh folk-plus-electronics bliss of ‘ばら二曲 Baranikyoku (Fellini&Rota)’ by World Standard – the most familiar alias of long-serving musician/producer Sohichiro Suzuki – and the hallucinatory, slow-motion tribal rhythms, post-punk rhythms and tape delay-laden electronics of Imitation’s ‘Exotic Dance’. Or, for that matter, the tipsy mid-‘80s electronic reggae of Pecker’s ‘Sha La La’, the grungy but melodic post-punk strut of ‘You Go On Natural’ by Earthling (a track Twitch accurately describes as “sheer unrelenting groove”), and the unearthly, swirling sonics, new age instrumentation and flotation tank vocals of prolific (and seemingly mysterious) act Geinoh Yamashirogumi’s ‘Rimme Kohkyogaku Meiki’.

It’s a credit to JD Twitch’s curatorial skills that the quality never dips, and sonic surprises lurk around every corner. Consider for a moment the hard to describe, far-sighted audio immersion of D-Day’s ‘Ki-Ra’ – all languid post-pop guitar, enveloping chords, spoken word vocals, shuffling 808 beats and marimba melodies – and the two contributions from video games soundtrack specialist (and driving instrumental synth-pop specialist) Hiroyuki Namba.

The collection naturally includes some selections that have long been favourites in Twitch’s DJ sets – see Masumi Hara’s ‘Your Dream’ – as well as a handful of tracks from artists who may be more recognisable to those with only rudimentary knowledge of Japanese musical culture. The great Yasuaki Shimizu, whose work as Mariah has become far better known in recent years thanks to reissues of some of his most magical albums, is represented via ‘The Crow’, a picturesque chunk of horizontal, hard-to-define jazz-not-jazz smokiness, while the collection fittingly concludes with a sublimely funky, oddball electronic workout from Yellow Magic Orchestra legend Ryuichi Sakamoto (the frankly incredible ‘Wongga Dance Song’).

Matt Anniss

The superduo formed by two authentic stars of the Italian dance scene is back with the ‘Rolling Wave’ EP on Mondo Groove. Daniele Baldelli needs no introduction; he has made a fiery mark on DJ history worldwide with his legendary sets. He built his eclectic and visionary style at the Baia Degli Angeli in the 1970s and Cosmic in the early 1980s, to the triumph of recent years, in demand at every latitude on the planet. DJ Rocca is one of Italy’s most inspired producers, his art forged in a mix of technique and passion, versatile enough to work alongside artists as diverse as Baldelli, Dimitri From Paris or one of the giants of Italian jazz, pianist Franco D’Andrea.

Daniele Baldelli & DJ Rocca are on fire in the four tracks of this new EP on Mondo Groove, which starts with the bleep sounds of the title track ‘Rolling Wave’, goes into orbit with the deep boogie of ‘Funk Infusion’ and a party number like ‘Marchin On’, and culminates in the refined disco-jazz digressions of ‘Focused Image’. A record that will be a future classic.

1st press sold out
LTD repress soon

Following Chicago’s tradition in special edits and dj personal reworks to extend crucial parts and surprise the dancers, Theo Parrish has always sparkled his legendary sets with his own versions of classic and obscure disco, funk and soul cuts to maximum effect! Some of those were available to fans in mid 2000s via the Ugly Edits series, now it’s finally time for the LOVELY EDITS.

Officially licensed and using the original parts from the master tapes, here we have Theo’s takes on two absolute staples: BT EXPRESS ‘Peace Pipe’ and GEORGE DUKE ‘I Want You For Myself’.

Mood Child Presents 'Various Moods Vol. 2' VA; six multi-mood tracks from artists including DJ Sneak, Antss, Marian (BR), and more.

Mood Child, the brainchild of Manda Moor and Sirus Hood, is back with ‘Various Moods Vol. 2’, a captivating collection of six tunes, each possessing its own distinct mood and power.

The VA kicks off with ‘Pakit Ban’ a timeless percussive and funky anthem. Brazilian talents Marian (BR) and Freenzy join forces to create this highly requested track, which has graced not only Manda and Sirus’ sets but also those of Jamie Jones and The Martinez Brothers.

House legend DJ Sneak returns to Mood Child with ‘Wemen’s Groove’. Prepare to be hooked by Sneak’s bouncy rhythms and to feel a masterclass with the massive buildup and incomparable vibe. Making his debut on the label, Barcelona-based artist Dafgal delivers ‘Gozando’. This high-energy tune features a universal groove and a captivating female vocal that will undoubtedly get anyone in a good mood.

UK rising star Antss drops ‘La La Lala’, a simple yet immensely effective track. Its powerful bassline, combined with playful voices, is tailor-made for electrifying crowds.

Brazilian duo Rokke & Techin present ‘Diamonds’, a shiny gem. Its addictive bass-led loop is complemented by an unforgettable bubbly synth, leading to a drop that etches memories.
Riffel & Jack Baron’s ‘Flute’ boasts an irresistible groove, complete with wonderful flute melodies. It’s auditory candy for discerning listeners.