Cerca:dream e

How do losers dance? According to Helmut, almost weightlessly, with soft feet, warm gestures, sometimes alone, sometimes together. Content Creatures, Helmut's fourth album, evokes the pop archetype of the "beautiful loser", who had almost disappeared from view in so-called late capitalism. In a present in which even suffering is often similarly instrumentalised and tailored to clicks like a competitive sport, this album sets a counterpoint: those who listen to it suddenly want to be enchanting losers again, useless and joyfully messing up, losing something beloved, having their hearts broken, giving up a dream, sinking into beauty.
You don't sink alone. Comforting harmonies envelop you, the voices of friends appear, accompany you for a while and then disappear again. Warm grooves, floating synths and delicate guitar lines characterise an indie sound that remains open and breathes.
Self-produced for the first time in his home studio in Neukölln, 'Content Creatures' sounds thoughtful and light at the same time. The album will be released digitally and on vinyl on 10 April 2026 on Berlin-based label St.Vladimir. There are four songs on one side and four songs on the other. The cover is adorned with an exceptionally pretty guinea pig. Helmut shows the special in the seemingly ordinary: a child's pet, the most ordinary of all, is his cover star and headstrong protagonist.

Wie tanzen Verlierer? Wenn man nach Helmut geht, dann fast schwerelos, mit weichen Füßen, warmen Gesten, manchmal allein, manchmal gemeinsam. Content Creatures, Helmuts viertes Album, evoziert den Pop-Archetypus des "beautiful loser", der im sogenannten Spätkapitalismus fast aus dem Blick geraten war. In einer Gegenwart, in der sogar das Leid oft ähnlich durchinstrumentalisiert und auf Klicks getrimmt ist wie ein Leistungssport, setzt dieses Album einen Kontrapunkt: Wer es hört, möchte auf einmal gern wieder ein bezaubernder Verlierer sein, nutzlos und freudvoll abkacken, etwas Geliebtes verlieren, das Herz gebrochen bekommen, einen Traum aufgeben, in Schönheit versinken.
Man versinkt nicht allein. Tröstende Harmonien legen sich um einen, die Stimmen von Freundinnen tauchen auf, begleiten einen ein Stück weit und verschwinden wieder. Warme Grooves, schwebende Synths und feine Gitarrenlinien prägen einen Indie-Sound, der offen bleibt, atmet. Erstmals in seinem Neuköllner Homestudio selbst produziert, klingt "Content Creatures" bedacht und leicht zugleich.
Das Album erscheint digital und auf Vinyl am 10.04.2026 auf dem Berliner Label St.Vladimir. Es hat vier Songs auf der einen und vier Songs auf der anderen Seite. Das Cover ziert ein außergewöhnlich hübsches Meerschweinchen. Helmut zeigt das Besondere im scheinbar Gewöhnlichen: Ein Kinderhaustier, das normalste von allen, ist bei ihm Coverstar und eigensinnige Protagonistin.

LYAM welcomes duo M1NT and STRNGE with 'Spheres', a breathtaking EP that embodies late night star gazing, all encompassing introspection and deep immersion in feeling.
M1NT and STRNGE, known as NRMNT, have built a compelling foundation for their sound, which speaks broadly with a deft, organic approach and enables intimacy, emotion and mood. They combine their production knowledge with M1NT's trumpet playing, a cornerstone of their unique sound, and move effortlessly through the realms of dance music, drawing inspiration from soft undulations, tonal waves and euphoric melodic frequencies, with strong emphasis on musical evolution.
'Spheres' encapsulates their musicianship, giving the music room to grow and morph as the EP unravels. 'New Horizons' has a hopeful gleam, with synths hinting at sun kissed skies and optimism, while M1NT's trumpet offers graceful cameos and expressive chordal lines over soft yet purposeful drums.
The title track leans into its dream-like synth intro before highly energised drums take hold, and its polyrhythmic keys and tight groove create spiritual release.
'Let Go' leans into the emotive power of melodics, with angelic touches that create a divine atmosphere, sparkling in softly spoken intensity as its wave-like approach washes over the ears.
Edmondson's remix of 'New Horizons' picks up the core motifs, softens the drums and shifts the mix, allowing new features to surface and creating a playful interchange between the trumpet and a creative vocal sample, offering a tour de force that homages the original.

On the 2024 Altered Circuits release Tropicana Tracks Rotterdam-based artist Betonkust paid tribute to the former subtropical pool (now a circular entrepreneurship hub) Tropicana of his hometown. ALT025 is the follow-up: the fallen-from-grace swimming paradise again fuels a club-oriented selection, inspired by, in the artist's words, "the electronic music from 1988 up until now", more specifically "the Benelux-sound". Tropicana Tracks Two kicks off in full gear with the zero swing drums and lately bass rhythms of Don't Think I'll Be Here Too Long setting the stage for intense synth stabs. Its counterpart comes by way of Realxing, which nonetheless uses similar patches. If the A1 is the thrill of the slides, this one feels like blissfully floating in the geothermally heated waters afterwards. Will Support on the reverse side takes on Detroit techno. Minimal in its composition, it is carried by tough, loopy minor fifth synth sections and prominently mixed rides. TV For Lonely People features more big bass catchiness and melancholic, silky melodies, glued together by vintage flanger treatment and chlorine-damp reverb. The production revels in what feels like the quintessential Betonkust sound. Innershades then joins for the encore, and, characteristically, the mood turns a bit darker. Letting Go Of The Dream is an emotional New Beat update, fully equipped with thudding drum works, haunting lo-fi vocals and pivotal 303 programming - a fitting reaffirmation of the long-standing ties between two of Low Countries Electronics's finest ambassadors.

Hardt Antoine returns to Crosstown Rebels with emotive new release ‘One More Night’, featuring Charlotte OC. Set for release on 24th April 2026, the French-Jamaican artist links with the UK singer-songwriter, backed by a remix from Echonomist.

A warm, late-night glow pulses through ‘One More Night’, as Hardt Antoine returns to Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels for his first original release on the label, adding to his captivating remix of Henri Bergmann & Wentink’s ‘Guardian Angel’ in 2024. Anchored by Charlotte OC’s striking delivery, the track draws on the pull of classic disco and modern club sensibilities, balancing introspection with pure dancefloor drive.

On remix duties, Greek DJ/producer Echonomist reshapes the original into a blissful voyage, layering skippy rhythms and shadowy textures for an emotive late-night ride. Rounding out the release, ‘Dreamstate’ offers a complementary original from Hardt Antoine, leaning further into his melodic instincts with a fluid, atmospheric groove.

Hardt Antoine’s output and sound draws on his French and Jamaican heritage, weaving house, techno, soul, and 80s influences into a sonic identity defi ned by rich melodies and groove-led songwriting with recent releases on the likes of Innervisions and KompaktMeanwhile, Charlotte OC brings her distinct vocal talents to Crosstown for the very first time. Following a return to her hometown of Blackburn and a renewed creative focus, her recent work leans into raw, self-assured songwriting, blending vulnerability with strength - qualities that sit at the heart of ‘One More Night’.

The return of Jonne Lydén aka 53X is an exhilarating welcome for Emotional Especial with 4 more seismic analogue psychedelic jams that are becoming recognisably a unique and hypnotic statement.

Lydén’s studio time is distillation for personal contemplation and perfection just 3 releases in 5 years that are worth the wait. The heady demand for his debut ‘Synapse’ and the following ‘Zen ‘23’ on Especial (limited repress incoming!) show constant development a sound of widescreen technoscope where dub beats trance pyrotechnics and 303 mind-melt swirling in a cosmic matter.

His return takes this further his music heritage in Finland’s hardcore punk scene to finding the techno of Detroit and Berlin before submerging in synths and drum programming jamming recording and mixing these trip-out electronic journeys live.

This heavy 4/4 jack is apparent on opening Sanctuary. Like his recent outings ‘Radar’ found on the Especial 50th “sampler” release ‘Gracias Especial’ (EES050) and also ‘Simulaato’ hidden away on blink and you miss it cult label Avidya (AVI003) this is a pure undiluted bang. Straight forward heavy bass kicking charged with acid 303 and monotonic vocal insights the track is a flourishing temple a call of embrace.

The eponymous Cyan Haze showcases 53X’s cinematic finest panoramic audio and sound design creating expansive phonics. BPMs drop samples flourish around break drops and rolling bass – breathing looping shouting lifting.

Owls enlightens. Hardware rumbles cerebral a temporal universe awakening. The collage of found sound successive sequential all encased by hypnotic broken chords rolling bass and melancholic piano refrain. Meta worming braindance ecstatic tribal industrial gliding by Shiva into the night.

Dust closes apt its basement collage pounds Lydén to techno genesis. Proto-zeitgeist steppa dark room incantation pulling and expanding the fantasy to strange dreamscapes. Reincarnation and hope in 2026.

ICONYC presents the third installment of a compilation series in perpetual bloom, Florilegia III. This new compendium of previously unreleased cuts balances vigor and depth, with unbridled passion and refined elegance for a captivating garland, featuring the sounds of AE:THER; Pole Position; Argia; Max Menaged, matteomie, & Adassiya; ALPHADOG; Marc Gonen & Island Hill; AIKON; Lexer; Still & Bense; Khainz & ZENON; Agustin Giri & Gespona; Deniz Tekin, Aliot & Tolu; Jordan Lev & Nael; and Convolute.

From the depths of the most independent and revolutionary underground, a handful of tracks from the repertoires (often limited even to a single flexi disc) of some of the heroes who rode the wave, extracting from it—more for themselves and expressive necessity than for us—its most mystical and expressionist essence. New and No Wave, minimal and minimalist electronics, Avant Wave from the land where the sun still rises for now.

Introducing The Hard Line is available on translucent green vinyl
Neither Fish, Nor Flesh is available on red coloured vinyl
Symphony Or Damn is available on gold coloured vinyl
Vibrator is available on blue coloured vinyl
JUST 400 AVAILABLE IN UK!!

180 gram audiophile vinyl, Newly remastered audio, processed at Artone Studio, approved by Sananda Maitreya
Anti-static black poly lined inner sleeves, Deluxe heavyweight sleeves on uncoated paper
All 4 albums include separate inserts with brand new introduction liner notes written by Sananda Maitreya
Box set is a limited edition, Hype sticker
Sananda Maitreya proudly announces “JUVENILIA : The Columbia Years”, a meticulously curated 4-LP box set bringing together
his first four groundbreaking albums, originally released between 1987 and 1995 Introducing the Hardline, Neither Fish Nor Flesh, Symphony or Damn, and Vibrator.
Set for release on February 6th, 2026, JUVENILIA mark the first time these iconic works have been remastered and presented together on
premium 180-gram vinyl, complete with restored artwork and new liner notes by Sananda.

Produced in collaboration with Sony Music UK, Music On Vinyl and Treehouse Publishing, “Sananda Maitreya’s JUVENILIA : The Columbia Years”,

pays tribute to a pivotal creative era that helped redefine the sound and spirit of modern soul, pop, and rock in the late 1980s and 1990s.

With its inaugural release, UX-MENTALE delivers a masterclass in dancefloor utility and atmospheric storytelling. Shkedul has crafted a massive 2x12" double pack that serves as an essential toolkit for any serious selector.
The genius of this album lies in its highly functional structure: eight distinct tracks meticulously engineered to satisfy eight different moments of a club night.
Far from just a collection of singles, You Are Now Connected is a cohesive sonic journey. It is a versatile, highly effective secret weapon that allows a DJ to seamlessly navigate the crowd's energy from the warm-up to the closing tracks. A flawless debut for UX-MENTALE.

You Can Believe it ??"

After five years Simone Guerra (aka Relative) returns to the "House of Mikkit" on his own Flexi Cuts imprint. This dancefloor-oriented album is a manifesto of raw obsession and future patterns, crafted for those who’ve stopped chasing trends to find something real.

The record breathes through deep fat analog basslines and hypnotic arpeggios, layered with dreamy synth lines and ghostly vocoder textures.

It’s a gritty, essential dive into the Italian underground—eight tracks where the machine finds its soul.

If you’re feeling down with your things, if you’re always chasing the tail end of the wave and looking back to it saying "wow"… this is a record you might want to listen to.

______________

Packaged in a protective PVC sleeve with a super raw hand-printed cover.

Including a postcard + 8 tracks download code.

******-----**

Produced, composed and mixed by Simone Guerra aka Relative at Studio Noce (Lugo) between dec '24 and sept '25.

Mastered by Francesco Brini

Design by Yari Calanna and Pietro Galeati.

Words by Matteo Garavini

Matias Aguayo drops debut single on Rekids‘El Internet’ is a prelude to the Coméme founder’ upcoming album on the label. Chile’s Matias Aguayo debuts on Rekids with ‘El Internet’, the first single of his upcoming album on Radio Slave’s acclaimed label. Coméme co-founder Aguayo’s ‘El Internet’ is a dancefloor-tested, pumping and uptempo track with personal, intimate vocals phoning in.

“El Internet” tells about walking through the city in hot summer nights looking for the perfect dancefloor and about moments in life where you feel (musical) freedom and change, revolutions in music and dreams in community, about YouTube, MySpace, Fotolog and about people who dance in their houses, yards and on the streets to primitive, raw, and direct music (like the rhythm of the track itself).” - Matias Aguayo

Chilean-born musician and DJ Matias Aguayo has been active for three decades, co-founding the Cómeme label in 2009 and releasing work on the likes of Kompakt, Pschent, Hard Fist, and Permanent Vacation. Beyond music, he has organised underground parties and led social projects, including a theatre production at Le Châtelet in Paris.

Radio Slave’s Rekids was founded in 2006 and has since spawned successful offshoots with the Techno-focused Rekids Special Projects in 2017 and its newest sublabel, REK’D, in 2024. With Matt Edwards as the sole A&R, Rekids has been crucial in developing early artist careers and has become a haven for established acts operating in House and adjacent genres, having recently featured the likes of Hilit Kolet, William Kiss, Tal Fussman, Tiger Stripes, Harry Rimero, The Hacker, Sean Johnston, and many more.

Introducing The Hard Line is available on translucent green vinyl
Neither Fish, Nor Flesh is available on red coloured vinyl
Symphony Or Damn is available on gold coloured vinyl
Vibrator is available on blue coloured vinyl
JUST 400 AVAILABLE IN UK!!

180 gram audiophile vinyl, Newly remastered audio, processed at Artone Studio, approved by Sananda Maitreya
Anti-static black poly lined inner sleeves, Deluxe heavyweight sleeves on uncoated paper
All 4 albums include separate inserts with brand new introduction liner notes written by Sananda Maitreya
Box set is a limited edition, Hype sticker
Sananda Maitreya proudly announces “JUVENILIA : The Columbia Years”, a meticulously curated 4-LP box set bringing together
his first four groundbreaking albums, originally released between 1987 and 1995 Introducing the Hardline, Neither Fish Nor Flesh, Symphony or Damn, and Vibrator.
Set for release on February 6th, 2026, JUVENILIA mark the first time these iconic works have been remastered and presented together on
premium 180-gram vinyl, complete with restored artwork and new liner notes by Sananda.

Produced in collaboration with Sony Music UK, Music On Vinyl and Treehouse Publishing, “Sananda Maitreya’s JUVENILIA : The Columbia Years”,

pays tribute to a pivotal creative era that helped redefine the sound and spirit of modern soul, pop, and rock in the late 1980s and 1990s.

This retail variant contains 2 LPs pressed on dreamy Watercolor vinyl and includes a trifold die-cut sleeve and 16-page booklet

After the release of the single “Egal” with singer Geraldine—the two Tuscan producers who met in Berlin—Lorenzo Fortino and Francesco Salvadori strengthen their friendship and musical connection in the studio with their first EP, “Friends Above Berlin,” released on the label Connessioni. The record opens with “Heide” (A1), which drops you straight onto the dancefloor with a blend of minimal house and acid that never lets go, a smooth mental trip full of groove. Next comes “Another Club Dimension” (A2), a track balancing house and techno, where a dominant bassline perfectly drives electronic drums, synthesizers, and ethereal vocals, resulting in a warm, elegant, and decisive sound. Side B opens with “Positive Attitude” (B1), a techno track with references to acid/progressive melodies, building continuously in intensity and emotional impact. The record closes with “Flying Through the City” (B2), where electro and acid sounds merge into a melodic journey with dreamy arrangements, making the track feel suspended beyond music itself, somewhere between past and future.

TECH040, titled INTRO, is a functional exploration of electronic music’s most delicate moments. The concept was born from Nastia’s personal experience as a globally touring DJ, identifying a distinct gap in the modern market: a scarcity of sophisticated, atmospheric tracks specifically designed to set the tone during the first minutes of a performance.

This compilation is more than just a collection of tracks; it is a professional toolkit. From deep hypnotism to restrained energy, each contribution has been meticulously selected for its ability to prepare the space and the audience for the journey ahead.

Conceived as a functional extension of the DJ set, the Intro / Outro series explores the moments that frame the dancefloor experience. Focused on beginnings and endings, each release navigates the subtle tension between anticipation and resolution – from the first pulse that opens a space, to the final echoes that dissolve it. Stripped of excess and driven by intent, the series reflects a deeper layer of Techno: not just as a peak-time tool, but as a language of transition, atmosphere and control.

The record, bringing together techno legends and contemporary tastemakers around the art of the "opening set," featuring the long-awaited production debut of the label head herself.

1984 veröffentlichte P. Lion sein Erfolgsalbum “Springtime“. Jetzt endlich wieder als limitierte farbige Doppel-Vinyl. Sein Song “Happy Children“ ist bis heute einer der größten Hits der Italo Disco Szene. Die Deluxe Edition beinhaltet zusätzlich zum kompletten Album die Radio Versionen der beiden großen Hits “Happy Children“ und “Dream“.

Dazu gibt es zwei Mixe von “Happy Children“ und die Instrumental Version von “Dream“.

Greg Mendez war schon immer ein sparsamer Songwriter - er nutzt Zurückhaltung und Einfachheit als Werkzeuge, um den Kern seiner Songs zu schärfen. Auf Beauty Land, seinem neuen Album und Debüt-LP für Dead Oceans, werden wir von einem ironischen, aber nachsichtigen Erzähler begleitet, einem Underdog, der gelernt hat, Zynismus und Glauben in Einklang zu bringen. Diese Songs sind zurückhaltend, ohne selbstmitleidig zu sein, sorgfältig konstruierte Altäre der Unvollkommenheit, vermittelt durch Pop-Melodien, schimmernde, aber eindringliche Gitarren und eine Stimme, die nach der Unschuld eines Chorknaben strebt. Der Großteil von ,Beauty Land" wurde direkt auf Band aufgenommen, fast ganz allein in Mendez' provisorischem Heimstudio in Philadelphia - einem kleinen Raum ohne Tageslicht. Es ist sein erstes Album in voller Länge seit seinem unerwarteten Durchbruch mit dem selbstbetitelten Album im Jahr 2023, das nach 15 Jahren des Schreibens und Aufnehmens von Musik in relativer Unbekanntheit zwischen Philly und New York ein langsamer Erfolg wurde. ,Beauty Land" knüpft dort an, wo wir vor drei Jahren aufgehört haben - es lotet die Tiefen von Trauer, Liebe und Sucht aus -, aber seine intensive, ruhige Klarheit zeigt Mendez von seiner besten Seite als Songwriter. Teile von ,Beauty Land" fühlen sich wie ein luzider Traum an, in dem angeschlagene Charaktere sich ihren Weg durch eine karikaturhafte und verzerrte Welt bahnen - der gebrochene Uhrentakt von ,I Wanna Feel Pretty", das klingende Spielzeugklavier in ,Gentle Love". ,Mary / Dreaming" beginnt als spärliche, fingergezupfte Klage, bevor es abrupt zu einer enttäuschten, Beach-Boys-artigen, aber verkorksten Auflösung übergeht, die sowohl Melancholie als auch Freude hervorruft; ein Gefühl, dass alle Dinge gleichzeitig wahr sein können. Keiner der 14 Tracks ist länger als drei Minuten, aber sie erzählen Geschichten, die ein ganzes Leben umfassen. Der Tod schwebt durch das Album, sei es als Erinnerung oder als Bedrohung. Alles fühlt sich prekär an. Die Art und Weise, wie diese Songs aufgebaut sind, hat etwas Zerbrechliches: die Art und Weise, wie die Begräbnisorgel neben dem Morphium in ,Looking Out Your Window" erklingt, die verheerende Einfachheit von ,Frog" mit seinem verlangsamten Keyboard und dem nackten Refrain: ,Bitte vergib mir meine Fehler." Beauty Land fühlt sich manchmal unmöglich einsam an. Umso mehr zählt es, wenn das nicht der Fall ist - wie zum Beispiel, wenn Mendez gegen Ende von ,So Mean" im Duett mit seiner Frau und Bandkollegin Veronica singt und es sich wie ein lang ersehntes Wiedersehen anfühlt, wie ein flüchtiger Moment der Erlösung, wie eine vorübergehende Teilung der Meere.

Greg Mendez war schon immer ein sparsamer Songwriter - er nutzt Zurückhaltung und Einfachheit als Werkzeuge, um den Kern seiner Songs zu schärfen. Auf Beauty Land, seinem neuen Album und Debüt-LP für Dead Oceans, werden wir von einem ironischen, aber nachsichtigen Erzähler begleitet, einem Underdog, der gelernt hat, Zynismus und Glauben in Einklang zu bringen. Diese Songs sind zurückhaltend, ohne selbstmitleidig zu sein, sorgfältig konstruierte Altäre der Unvollkommenheit, vermittelt durch Pop-Melodien, schimmernde, aber eindringliche Gitarren und eine Stimme, die nach der Unschuld eines Chorknaben strebt. Der Großteil von ,Beauty Land" wurde direkt auf Band aufgenommen, fast ganz allein in Mendez' provisorischem Heimstudio in Philadelphia - einem kleinen Raum ohne Tageslicht. Es ist sein erstes Album in voller Länge seit seinem unerwarteten Durchbruch mit dem selbstbetitelten Album im Jahr 2023, das nach 15 Jahren des Schreibens und Aufnehmens von Musik in relativer Unbekanntheit zwischen Philly und New York ein langsamer Erfolg wurde. ,Beauty Land" knüpft dort an, wo wir vor drei Jahren aufgehört haben - es lotet die Tiefen von Trauer, Liebe und Sucht aus -, aber seine intensive, ruhige Klarheit zeigt Mendez von seiner besten Seite als Songwriter. Teile von ,Beauty Land" fühlen sich wie ein luzider Traum an, in dem angeschlagene Charaktere sich ihren Weg durch eine karikaturhafte und verzerrte Welt bahnen - der gebrochene Uhrentakt von ,I Wanna Feel Pretty", das klingende Spielzeugklavier in ,Gentle Love". ,Mary / Dreaming" beginnt als spärliche, fingergezupfte Klage, bevor es abrupt zu einer enttäuschten, Beach-Boys-artigen, aber verkorksten Auflösung übergeht, die sowohl Melancholie als auch Freude hervorruft; ein Gefühl, dass alle Dinge gleichzeitig wahr sein können. Keiner der 14 Tracks ist länger als drei Minuten, aber sie erzählen Geschichten, die ein ganzes Leben umfassen. Der Tod schwebt durch das Album, sei es als Erinnerung oder als Bedrohung. Alles fühlt sich prekär an. Die Art und Weise, wie diese Songs aufgebaut sind, hat etwas Zerbrechliches: die Art und Weise, wie die Begräbnisorgel neben dem Morphium in ,Looking Out Your Window" erklingt, die verheerende Einfachheit von ,Frog" mit seinem verlangsamten Keyboard und dem nackten Refrain: ,Bitte vergib mir meine Fehler." Beauty Land fühlt sich manchmal unmöglich einsam an. Umso mehr zählt es, wenn das nicht der Fall ist - wie zum Beispiel, wenn Mendez gegen Ende von ,So Mean" im Duett mit seiner Frau und Bandkollegin Veronica singt und es sich wie ein lang ersehntes Wiedersehen anfühlt, wie ein flüchtiger Moment der Erlösung, wie eine vorübergehende Teilung der Meere.

Greg Mendez war schon immer ein sparsamer Songwriter - er nutzt Zurückhaltung und Einfachheit als Werkzeuge, um den Kern seiner Songs zu schärfen. Auf Beauty Land, seinem neuen Album und Debüt-LP für Dead Oceans, werden wir von einem ironischen, aber nachsichtigen Erzähler begleitet, einem Underdog, der gelernt hat, Zynismus und Glauben in Einklang zu bringen. Diese Songs sind zurückhaltend, ohne selbstmitleidig zu sein, sorgfältig konstruierte Altäre der Unvollkommenheit, vermittelt durch Pop-Melodien, schimmernde, aber eindringliche Gitarren und eine Stimme, die nach der Unschuld eines Chorknaben strebt. Der Großteil von ,Beauty Land" wurde direkt auf Band aufgenommen, fast ganz allein in Mendez' provisorischem Heimstudio in Philadelphia - einem kleinen Raum ohne Tageslicht. Es ist sein erstes Album in voller Länge seit seinem unerwarteten Durchbruch mit dem selbstbetitelten Album im Jahr 2023, das nach 15 Jahren des Schreibens und Aufnehmens von Musik in relativer Unbekanntheit zwischen Philly und New York ein langsamer Erfolg wurde. ,Beauty Land" knüpft dort an, wo wir vor drei Jahren aufgehört haben - es lotet die Tiefen von Trauer, Liebe und Sucht aus -, aber seine intensive, ruhige Klarheit zeigt Mendez von seiner besten Seite als Songwriter. Teile von ,Beauty Land" fühlen sich wie ein luzider Traum an, in dem angeschlagene Charaktere sich ihren Weg durch eine karikaturhafte und verzerrte Welt bahnen - der gebrochene Uhrentakt von ,I Wanna Feel Pretty", das klingende Spielzeugklavier in ,Gentle Love". ,Mary / Dreaming" beginnt als spärliche, fingergezupfte Klage, bevor es abrupt zu einer enttäuschten, Beach-Boys-artigen, aber verkorksten Auflösung übergeht, die sowohl Melancholie als auch Freude hervorruft; ein Gefühl, dass alle Dinge gleichzeitig wahr sein können. Keiner der 14 Tracks ist länger als drei Minuten, aber sie erzählen Geschichten, die ein ganzes Leben umfassen. Der Tod schwebt durch das Album, sei es als Erinnerung oder als Bedrohung. Alles fühlt sich prekär an. Die Art und Weise, wie diese Songs aufgebaut sind, hat etwas Zerbrechliches: die Art und Weise, wie die Begräbnisorgel neben dem Morphium in ,Looking Out Your Window" erklingt, die verheerende Einfachheit von ,Frog" mit seinem verlangsamten Keyboard und dem nackten Refrain: ,Bitte vergib mir meine Fehler." Beauty Land fühlt sich manchmal unmöglich einsam an. Umso mehr zählt es, wenn das nicht der Fall ist - wie zum Beispiel, wenn Mendez gegen Ende von ,So Mean" im Duett mit seiner Frau und Bandkollegin Veronica singt und es sich wie ein lang ersehntes Wiedersehen anfühlt, wie ein flüchtiger Moment der Erlösung, wie eine vorübergehende Teilung der Meere.

Norway's Aura Noir was formed in 1993 by Aggressor & Apollyon in pursuit of a more thrash-based form of black metal than much of what was coming out at the time - particularly in their homeland - citing bands such as Slayer, Sodom & Kreator as inspirations along with purveyors of the scene such as Venom, for a dirtier, stripped down, violent black/thrash metal sound. Their first official release was the 'Dreams Like Deserts' EP on Hot Records, & from there-on the band became a truly cult act, releasing a string of albums among ongoing live performances over the subsequent decades.

'Black Thrash Attack' was Aura Noir's debut full length album, originally recorded & released in 1996, & was a continuation of the intense thrash riffing displayed on 'Dreams Like Deserts'. This edition of 'Black Thrash Attack' includes a cover of the venom classic 'Heavens on Fire', from the cult 'Black Metal' album. All members of Aura Noir have had illustrious careers to date, with Carl-Michael Eide (Aggressor) notable for his work in Ved Buens Ende, Dødheimsgard, Virus, & Fleurety, as well as being part of other scene icons such as Ulver & Satyricon in their formative years. Apollyon, currently also seen in Coffin Storm with Darkthrone's Fenriz, previously featured in Dødheimsgard, as well as Lamented Souls & Immortal. Completing the trio is Blasphemer, formerly of fellow Norwegian legends Mayhem, as well as being current mainman in his recently established band, RUiM.

This edition of 'Black Thrash Attack' marks the 30th anniversary of the release, & is presented on limited marble vinyl, following the layout of the original.

Norway's Aura Noir was formed in 1993 by Aggressor & Apollyon in pursuit of a more thrash-based form of black metal than much of what was coming out at the time - particularly in their homeland - citing bands such as Slayer, Sodom & Kreator as inspirations along with purveyors of the scene such as Venom, for a dirtier, stripped down, violent black/thrash metal sound. Their first official release was the 'Dreams Like Deserts' EP on Hot Records, & from there-on the band became a truly cult act, releasing a string of albums among ongoing live performances over the subsequent decades.

'Black Thrash Attack' was Aura Noir's debut full length album, originally recorded & released in 1996, & was a continuation of the intense thrash riffing displayed on 'Dreams Like Deserts'. This edition of 'Black Thrash Attack' includes a cover of the venom classic 'Heavens on Fire', from the cult 'Black Metal' album. All members of Aura Noir have had illustrious careers to date, with Carl-Michael Eide (Aggressor) notable for his work in Ved Buens Ende, Dødheimsgard, Virus, & Fleurety, as well as being part of other scene icons such as Ulver & Satyricon in their formative years. Apollyon, currently also seen in Coffin Storm with Darkthrone's Fenriz, previously featured in Dødheimsgard, as well as Lamented Souls & Immortal. Completing the trio is Blasphemer, formerly of fellow Norwegian legends Mayhem, as well as being current mainman in his recently established band, RUiM.

This edition of 'Black Thrash Attack' marks the 30th anniversary of the release, & is presented on limited marble vinyl, following the layout of the original.

For the first time since their epic 2019 album, Hiding Places, billy woods teams with Kenny Segal (producer) to bring us, Maps, billy woods' most accessible album to date. A-list features include: Danny Brown, Sam Herring (Future Islands), Aesop Rock, Elucid, Benjamin Booker, and more. Fat Possum is partnering with Backwoodz Studioz to provide global marketing and distribution resources. In 2022, billy woods released 2 solo albums to wide acclaim: "aethiopes" and "church". Both albums made Pitchfork's Best Albums of 2022 list, and FADER named "aethiopes" their #1 AOTY.

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

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



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

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

A collection of hit songs released at the time of the TV anime "Dragon Ball", including rare insert songs, has been reissued on clear orange vinyl. This is a truly one-star ball (Yishinchu) disc!

A collection of hit songs that also includes the opening theme song "Makafushigi Adventure!" and ending theme song "Romantic Ageruyo" released in 1986. The "Son Goku Song" is sung by Masako Nozawa, the voice actor for Son Goku, the main character of Dragon Ball, and the "Wolf Hurricane" is sung by Toru Furuya, Yamcha's voice actor, Hyuma Hoshi from Star of the Giants, and Amuro Ray from Mobile Suit Gundam. Contains a total of 10 songs, including "Mutenroushi no Oshie" song by Kohei Miyauchi, the voice actor of Master Roshi! A must-have for Dragon Ball fans!

Sometimes the title of an album tells you everything you need to know. Laurence Pike’s Possible Utopias for Jazz Quintet is like that: The music within represents a search for freedom, potentiality—liberatory strategies that transcend the ego and the solitary, atomized figure.

But in this case, the album title is also a red herring, because there is no jazz quintet here—just Pike, his drums, and his machines, not so much an ersatz ensemble as a purely notional one, a thought experiment equipped with drumsticks, circuitry, and the desire to go beyond hardwired limits.

And the results, strictly speaking, aren’t really jazz, though they incorporate the vocabulary of jazz, along with that of ambient, electronica, and post-rock. They are some other thing, cognizant of genre but never beholden to it. Again, we’re talking about a search for freedom here.

The Sydney-based musician has a long history of coloring outside the lines, not just in his solo recordings—including four albums for the Leaf label between 2018 and 2024—but also in the trio Pivot (later PVT); Szun Waves (alongside saxophonist Jack Wyllie and Border Community’s Luke Abbott); Triosk, which recorded an album with Jan Jelinek in 2003; and even post-punk titans Liars, whom he joined in late 2018.

Of his first album for Balmat, Pike says, “My loose concept was: What does music sound like when the expectations of late capitalism are removed from it? How might a jazz musician from an idealised culture of the future, or even another world, utilise musical language when the conventions of style and marketing are no longer a factor in music making?”

That inquiry, he says, connects to his “guiding principle: that the purpose of music is to access something bigger than the individual, and reveal a sense of possibility and freedom in the world to the listener. To create an understanding that the future can be something other than what we imagined or expect, even unconsciously.”

Heady ideas, but plug into his stream-of-metaconsciousness flow and you may start to intuit what motivates him. There is a deeply lyrical expression in these pieces—in the ruminative piano of opener “Guardians of Memory,” for example—but also a sense of exploded perspective, of ideas approached from more angles than any one mind could dream up. Of a collectivized consciousness, of mycelial networks branching across tone and rhythm and timbre, of ideas articulated in distributed fashion, nodal points dancing across drum heads.

Pike’s imaginary quintet is hardly without precedent; it’s a continuation of concepts floated across Jan Jelinek’s Loop-Finding-Jazz-Records, Burnt Friedman’s many guises, and much of the recombinant improv of the International Anthem roster, not to mention the far corners of ECM’s catalog in the late 1970s and 1980s, which Pike says have been integral to his development since he was a teenager. Possible Utopias for Jazz Quintet is a point in a continuum, a voice in a conversation, a question with no obvious answer: How can the search for otherness in music manifest something true about ourselves?

Shed makes his first appearance on Dekmantel with Rave Echoes — a supple, mesmerising album of angular techno caught between the heat of peak time and the time-blurred hours after the club.

A combination of dreamlike atmospherics and rugged propulsion takes on many forms across the album. It's submerged and restrained on 'Loot 25', speckled with sharply sliced breaks on 'Everybody' and scattered across a sparse, steppy soundscape on 'Rave Predator'. Emotive, swooning strings collide with tough, squashed breakstep drums on 'Double Scoop' and 'Taking You Home' thrusts with urgency and rave romanticism in equal measure.

Wielding his signature blend of UK-school soundsystem pressure and Berlin-school techno momentum with poise and purpose, on Rave Echoes Shed offers a perfect impression of those wild, indescribable sensory overloads that leave their mark on anyone devoted to the dancefloor.

WRWTFWW Records is thrilled to announce their 5th archival release taken from cult Tokyo label FORM@ RECORDS' catalogue, this time with the first-ever vinyl edition of Re-Form Ver-1.0. The remarkable, yet not widely known, 1999 remix compilation is now available as a limited edition 45rpm cut double LP housed in a heavyweight sleeve, as well as in digital format.
Originally only available on CD in extremely limited quantities, Re-Form Ver-1.0 resurfaces as a fascinating document of FORM@ RECORDS' late-1990s creative peak. Re-imagining key pieces from the label's catalogue, the remix collection offers a rare glimpse into Tokyo's electronic underground, where techno, house, ambient, and IDM breathe freely through FORM@'s soulful and exploratory vision.
Highlights include two remixes of Missing Project's adored gem "Poisson D'Avril" (including its well known ethereal ambient Galaxy Dub which appeared on Music From Memory's Virtual Dreams II) as well as the otherworldly Fossil (aka the legend Virgo) Mix of Penance's "Cure & Soul". Throughout, the compilation balances dancefloor sensibility with introspective listening, embodying the warm human approach to machine music FORM@ RECORDS excels in.
Another essential time capsule from a crucial era of underground music, Re-Form Ver-1.0 echoes the spirit of Warp's Artificial Intelligence era, alongside the forward-thinking energy of Ken Ishii, Carl Craig, The Black Dog, and Ian O'Brien, while keeping its feet and individuality firmly rooted in local context - the magic recipe for creating a universal, timeless language of electronic expression.
Re-Form Ver-1.0 follows the vinyl edition of Virgo's Landform Code (1998) and Remnants (1999), as well as the FORM@ compilations Art Form I (1997) and Art Form 2 (1998), further expanding WRWTFWW's archival series dedicated to uncovering hidden gems of late '90s Japanese electronic music.

Eight tracks of post-rave melancholy from Lisbon's Goncalo Salgado. The ghost of a dancefloor heard from a great distance. Tape-worn and cold, intimate and aching, VHS Memories is the sound of nostalgia pressed into transparent wax.

Blue Hour is the most recent release from Friday Night Plans, recently signed by Modern Obscure Music. The project marks FNP's shift from their 'pop' roots towards a more experimental and ambient sound. Friday Night Plans is pioneered by singer/songwriter Masumi who has collaborated on this project with acclaimed Japanese producer Ena. Together, they have created a collection of songs that represents the quiet introspection and emotions of the AM hours, using improvisation during the production process to create a cyclical record that is described as 'dreamlike'. Masumi attributes the project to a journey consisting of fragments of memory through each song; a reflection of how nostalgia and recollection connects us to emotions.

FELT wade deeper into the murky waters of contemporary Scandinavian electroacoustic music following the recent reissue of Johan Wieth’s Health & Safety project on sub-label LEFT and established gems from the likes of Civilistjävel!

Gintė Preisaitė, a Lithuanian artist and graduate of Copenhagen’s Rhythmic Music Conservatory, reveals her first solo release under her own name, following a collaborative effort with Toshimaru Nakamura in 2025 and a number of cassettes as “Baraboro”. The deliberately genre-blurring sound Preisaitė deploys works with composed pop vignettes, sustained drones, FX manipulations and guttural bursts of noise. Sparse piano movements, sample-laden psychedelia and moments of big beat/trip-hop rhythms gel with crowd noise, close mic’d intimacy and experimental percussion with a focus on instrumental timbres and extended techniques.

With a background in composing for large ensembles, Preisaitė's multi-instrumental approach is evident across the eight tracks, moments of dense concrète-style sound collages anchored by the human voice never being far away. She laments on fantasy, absurdity and relationships as a cast of players contribute string, brass, accordion, and guitar parts. Passages move from delicate acoustic folk motifs through to wide-eyed, cut-and-paste glitch electronics and spectral melodic riffs, making the album an unorthodox and welcome addition to Denmark's current world-class music scene.

As keyboard maestro James Taylor arrives at his 40th year leading his Quartet, he has re-signed with his original label Acid Jazz and is embarking on a series of the most radical projects he has ever worked on. Following his first classical album ‘Shadows and Dreams’ earlier this year, he brings the Quartet together for a remarkable new album. ‘Te Deum’ sets the ancient, 4th-entury Christian text to intense jazz, funk, and Latin grooves. The music sees the James Taylor Quartet working alongside the children of the Benenden Chapel Choir, and a guest horn section and legendary Acid Jazz percussionist Snowboy. Lead track ‘Have Mercy On Us’ mixes Brazilian samba with Gregorian chants, ‘The Comforter’ sounds like a Donald Byrd with voices Blue Note Records experiment, and last year’s radio favourite ‘Wildflower’ mixes bossa nova with sunshine pop harmonies and a positive message. The JTQ is on tour throughout the year - as he always is and will be worth catching live.

Re-Release auf clear, purple marbled Vinyl.

Personified, reinvigorated, and re-imagined!

Tech-metal outfit FALLUJAH expand horizons and solidify their position as one of America’s most exciting artists on their new album, Xenotaph, through Nuclear Blast. The Bay Area-based quintet’s confidence in the lineup that made their previous album, Empyrean (2022), such a resounding success—earning high marks from Metal Injection, New Noise, and Guitar World—has been reconfigured slightly, with guitarist Sam Mooradian (INHALE EXISTENCE, SAM MOORADIAN) and drummer Kevin Alexander (DISEMBODIED TYRANT. BROUGHT BY PAIN) bringing their jaw-dropping musical proficiency to the fold, as vocalist Kyle Schaefer, guitarist Scott Carstairs, and bassist Evan Brewer enter a new chapter with FALLUJAH. Moored by singles ‘Kaleidoscopic Waves,’ ‘Labyrinth of Stone,’ and ‘Step Through the Portal and Breathe,’ Xenotaph is FALLUJAH personified, reinvigorated, and re-imagined.
As a details-oriented record Xenotaph benefits from moments of low tension, atmospheric delight, and Schaefer’s winged clean vocals. This
dynamic isn’t particularly new to Fallujah, but the group spent considerable time honing what each song needed—from blast-laden speed runs and jazz-fusion solos to vocal restraint and brutality—which resulted in a brighter, more exhilarating experience. Musically, it truly feels like the listener is embroiled in the album’s sci-fi concept and Peter Mohrbacher’s stunning cosmogonic cover art, which is aesthetically in line with his previous covers (Dreamless and Empyrean) for FALLUJAH. Close encounters with ‘Step Through the Portal and Breathe’, ‘Labyrinth of Stone,’ and ‘Kaleidoscopic Waves’ spark wonder and stimulate the soul.

Pour Me, My Friend, The Nectar of Dionysus PCM004 is a vibrant four-track exploration of deep tech house, crafted with elegance, groove, and an undeniable sense of joy. Rooted in musicality and designed for the dancefloor, this release blends warm, jazz-tinged elements with modern production finesse, offering a rich and uplifting listening experience from start to finish.

On Side A, A1. Andrey Djackonda – Never Disappear and A2. Deep District – Back Room introduce a welcoming atmosphere built on smooth progressions, refined hi-hat work, and dreamy pad textures. The grooves are fluid and inviting, supported by strong basslines and a playful spirit that sets a positive tone from the very first moments — perfect for drawing people onto the dancefloor with ease and charm.

The B-side raises the intensity. B1. Anirr – Still Trying to Be Perfect and B2. Andrey Djackonda – Refresh shift into a more driving, peak-time energy, where tighter rhythms and increased momentum take control. These tracks carry a confident push, designed for those moments when the room is fully alive and the energy calls for a stronger, more direct connection.

Balancing warmth, groove, and power, PCM004 is a well-rounded and versatile EP — an essential addition for those who appreciate house music in its most expressive, dancefloor-ready form.

Panna Cotta Music is a division of MixCult Records

co:clear is blessed to share the latest offering of Leipzig-based artist, tibslc. Like many, we were introduced to her work through those two stunner long-players on Sferic at the turn of the decade. Five years have passed since then and her work continues to mesmerise – a string of accomplished self-releases have nestled themselves amongst contributions to STROOM.tv and SoundSupply_Service, to name but a few.

In the here and now, we are pleased to showcase ‘City of Something’ – 8 fragments of deluxe hi-fi ambient that further dissolves us in digital haze. Traversing through meticulous fragments of sound, tiblsc entices the listener to her synthetic dreamworld with an album of deep, euphonic electronics. Serene moments of singer-songwriting are sprinkled throughout and remind us of the artist’s delicate ability to captivate with her ethereal voice.

Artwork comes courtesy of Berlin-based artist, Margarita Maximova. Strictly limited to 250 copies of 12” wax and via most digital outlets. Out 29th May 2026.

Out on limited edition 12” vinyl & digital, 29th May 2026. Limited to 250 copies.

Vinyl Best of album Recorded Live at the Coronet, London 29th August 2004 Charged GBH: Colin Abrahall: Vocals / Jock Blyth: Guitar / Ross Lomas: Bass / Scott Preece: Drums Also available on CD+DVD Cat No. SECDP134 ‘City Baby Attacked By Rats’.
Full mailout to relevant music press and radio. Full promotion across social media platforms Advertising in Record Collector, Viva le Rock, Shindig

Recycled purple cassette tape The monster-collecting open-world RPG "Cassette Beasts" is delivering a furious 80's synth rock meets British indie soundtrack composed by Joel Baylis and featuring shooting star Shelby Harvey on vocals. This soundtrack is taking you on a journey across the mysterious island of New Wirral - from lo-fi acoustic ballads to all-out headbangers! By the way, welcome to New Wirral, a remote island inhabited by strange creatures you've only dreamed of, nightmares you hopefully haven't, and a cast of brave folks who use cassette tapes to transform for battle. To find a way home you'll need to explore every inch of the island, and record monsters to your trusty cassette tapes to gain their abilities!

For its eleventh installment, Raw Soul continues to carve out its place in the deeper end of the house spectrum, this time welcoming Stuttgart-based DJ and producer Jakob Mäder to the fold.
Titled "House Your Feeling", the five-track EP captures Mäder's wide-ranging musical language-rooted in house, yet drifting effortlessly into ambient textures, disco-tinted warmth, and subtly experimental structures. It's a body of work that feels both intimate and expansive, equally suited for late-night listening and early-morning dancefloors.
The collaboration has been a long time in the making. Built over months of close exchange, the project reflects not only a shared musical vision but also a genuine personal connection. That sense of trust and patience resonates throughout the record-carefully crafted, unhurried, and deeply felt.
Across the EP, Mäder explores different shades of house music: from reduced, dreamy cuts to more groove-driven moments, always maintaining a distinct emotional core. One of the highlights comes in the form of a collaboration with Markus Phillip, adding another layer of depth to an already rich release.
Known for his work with the Midnight Service crew and his eclectic productions spanning ambient, deep house and breakbeat, Mäder brings a refined yet playful touch to Raw Soul's catalogue. With "House Your Feeling", he delivers a timeless contribution that feels grounded in the present while nodding to the genre's enduring legacy.

(180g Axis Audiophile Series / color label/ black generic jacket) Including audio commentary by Jeff Mills himself

Fresh Hold Releases presents Helen Ripley-Marshall's mysterious Australian ambient electronic album "Green Chaos", reissued for the first time on vinyl LP. Originally released in 1988 on Sydney based private press label Freefall, "Green Chaos" marks the sole release from Ripley-Marshall.

In the late 80's Ripley-Marshall lived a Bohemian lifestyle in inner city Sydney; "surrounded by musicians, actors and artists, there was an amazing creative experimental vibe going on". While playing in new wave/art rock band "D Face" she began Green Chaos as a personal project to counteract the creative friction sometimes experienced within a group dynamic, heavily inspired by Arnold Frolows' "Ambience" radio show on Australia's Triple J and particularly the music of Tangerine Dream, Harold Budd and Brian Eno.

Initially a solitary endeavour, once she decided to record in a studio Green Chaos morphed into a somewhat collaborative, improvisational project with other musicians invited into the studio to improvise and add their own interpretations and ideas, additional layers and dimensions, resulting in a work that combines a clear influence from the electronic repetition of the Berlin school with a meandering, futuristic lyricism. Although influenced by the long form sonic journeys of artists like Tangerine Dream, Ripley-Marshall's background in art rock and new wave brings a more concise approach, each song a self-contained universe that says only what is necessary in the arrangement.

After completing a sound engineering course Ripley-Marshall recorded the album at Sydney's Exeter House Studio over several months alongside studio engineer Andrew Knight, met through a fellow member of D Face. Knight ran Freefall, a private press recording label releasing folk and bluegrass music, which had Green Chaos as its sole ambient release. Ripley-Marshall self distributed the album to local inner city record stores and dropped a copy to Triple J, where it became a regular staple of Arnold Frolows' show.

These days Ripley-Marshall has moved away from music and is predominantly focused on visual art. "Green Chaos" stands as the only released product of her musical years, both a personal window into the vibrant experimental art scene of late 1980s Sydney and a deep, timeless anomaly of Australian electronic music.