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2026 Repress
The ocean- the infinity, the beauty, the colour, the sound: a truly seductive place. With the sound of ocean waves Smallville's beloved artist Moomin invites us to enter his second full length album A Minor Thought". A selection of wonderful tracks initiate some exciting house music moments at our favorite clubs, improved at Panorama Bar, Robert Johnson and of course the Golden Pudel among many others.. Engaged with a fantastic collection of analogue synths and drum machines, Moomin is always on a hunt of the most delicate samples. After his big first album The Story About You' and a number of beautiful works on his own imprint Closer", he was already back on Smallville's new little baby Fuck Reality' to deliver a 12 for the 2015 summertime. Of course Moomin was also part of the Smallville 10 years Compilation Smallville Ways' and delivered again for Smallville 46. Now he appears with another string of beauty- A Minor Thought. There will be a lovely fullcover artwork package with printed Inlays for the vinyl version by Smallville's one and only Stefan Marx.

MASK Records founder ZentaSkai joins forces with Berlin-based creative Laura Merino Allue under the name Cuddling Monsters, a project centered on analog processes and tactile sound design. Debuting in March 2024, the project explores Detroit-infused House, dub Techno, and minimal soundscapes shaped by raw texture and spatial depth. Working exclusively with analogue instruments, the duo prioritise warmth, imperfection, and presence over polish. Alongside her music work, Laura Merino Allue is also a graphic designer, bringing a strong visual identity to the project’s wider aesthetic.
‘Cuddling Monsters' is inspired by real-life experiences — the raw, imperfect, beautiful moments we move through. We believe in staying present, feeling everything deeply, and embracing the analog flow of the now. It’s about living the moment fully — and like a cuddle on the dancefloor, creating a space where sound holds you, warmth surrounds you, and even the wildest monsters feel safe enough to soften.’ -
Cuddling Monsters
The Cuddling Monsters ‘Vol. 3’ EP opens with ‘Bubble Bloom’, a melodic house track featuring warped, filtered synth tones that set a hazy foundation before a dub-leaning beat settles in. It’s layered with aquatic, bubbly textures and fragmented samples, adding warmth and movement. ‘Warm Waves’ shifts into a lighter, more atmospheric space, increasing the tempo slightly while maintaining a restrained, ethereal character. The B-side closes with ‘Secret Signal’, a long-form techno piece stretching over ten minutes, where evolving synth lines gradually merge with soft, dubby drums and analogue percussion, building steadily without excess before easing out.

DJ Support: Danny Krivit, Brian Tappert, John Morales, Craig Charles, Dr packer and more

Italian producer Corrado Alunni returns to the 7-inch format with a high-caliber double-sider. The A-side, 'Black Pearl', is a masterclass in jazz-funk-house elegance, weaving warm Fender Rhodes melodies with vibrant flute and trumpet solos over a sophisticated, sun-drenched groove. On the flip, 'Turn It On' keeps the energy high with Alunni’s signature blend of infectious Rhodes riffs, chunky basslines, and dancefloor-ready drums. A must-have addition for fans of soulful house and nu-disco lovers alike.

2026 Repress

Jack Stevens aka Sully has become somewhat of a cult figure in the jungle world with his output being in high demand. His work is unmistakable. It’s always true to it’s origins while simultaneously adding new takes and juxtapositions in palette and composition. A true artist that excels in his field.

Stevens returns to Astrophonica with Swandive, a body of work presented in dual energies - dark & light, body & mind, Yin & Yang. In Werk you’re put to the test physically as es- ki-like percussion stabs grab the attention and demand a response. A staple in Fracture’s DJ sets for the last year or so.

Poison demonstrates a side to Stevens’ production that is harder, meaner, cruder and all together more brutal than he is known for. The result is an infectious mix of venomous bass and corrupted drum breaks fit to kill any dance.

The title track Swandive begins to counterbalance the fierce energy and bring some harmony opening with calming strings and trademark icy melodies before elevating to an intense state of amen divinity that twists and turns in a story like fashion.

Memories completes the balance with euphoric bass stabs and emotional strings culminat- ing in a searing and conclusive anime-like solo. Some of Stevens’ most daring work. The cycle is complete.

Undo & Casiowaves join forces to bend minds on their new EP “Chemical Eyes”. The Catalonian pairing, collaborators for the past five years, have built a body of work that’s conceptually rich and sonically sophisticated. The “Chemical Eyes” EP is a love letter to analog synths, taking us on a psychedelic trip through past and present, nostalgic but never mimetic.

Reality begins to warp the moment “Chemical Eyes” kicks in. The title track opens in post-punk territory, leaning into nostalgia both lyrically and sonically and with synth outro that lingers like a memory.

Parisian producer Chloé’s remix takes us firmly into the 21st century, chopping up the title track until it mutates into something more minimal and syncopated. This electronic take still retains the track’s post-punk mood, with contemplative loops and reverb-drenched guitar as we begin to move from the concert venue into the club.

B side “Trumpsky Beats” picks up the pace with neon-soaked synthwave that references the 80s synthpop icons in more than just name. Crisp, shimmering synths dance through warped bass lines and new wave drum patterns, creating a lush contrapuntal soundscape that thrives as much on nostalgic memory as it does on contemporary creativity.

Italo Brutalo’s remix amps up the intensity further with infectious snares and acid twangs. The German producer and synth enthusiast adds a tasteful complexity that pulls the EP fully onto the dancefloor.

Featuring rare- and first-on-vinyl tracks from beloved producers such as 2000 And One, Stasis, and CiM. Remastered by DMX Krew and with an accompanying online essay by Oli Warwick.

Across eight carefully selected slices of starry-eyed machine soul, Cold Blow presents an exquisite tour through backroom techno and downtempo electro. With a focus on thematic flow and an immersive listening experience, the London-based label explores works from leading lights of the 1990s and previously unreleased cuts that celebrate the human heart that can be discovered in synthetic sound practices. The development of techno in the 1990s saw the music evolve in different directions across the world. From the expressive blueprint laid out by the Detroit pioneers, a wide range of tempos and energies emerged. Techno's evocative synthesis and intricate drum machine programming was especially potent for deeper explorations away from the dancefloor. Documents Of A Different Reality casts back to when technology was steering quantum leaps in communication and creativity and the future was shot through with naive optimism. It was also a time when the media and industry hadn't caught up with the music to box it into distinct categories. As such, there's a sense of creative freedom that informs the older tracks on the album, from 2000 And One and Sandy Huner's sparkling example of early Dutch techno to London-based LA Synthesis' detailed take on braindance and the majestic night sky vision of cult legend Stasis. There's also space for rare, late 90s machine funk from Icelandic outlier Thor alongside Connective Zone's charmingly fractured bleep dream and a more contemporary offering from Barcelona-based duo Permutation. Meanwhile Mind Control and CiM both capture the spirit of stylistic fusion with twitchier rhythms that take influence from hardcore and jungle as much as techno. With an atmospheric through-line of melancholic pads and harmonious leads, this small but perfectly formed collection naturally follows on from previous, equally thought-out compilations on Cold Blow, and adds a distinct perspective on the history and continuing legacy of pioneering early ambient techno.

Deeppa Records kicks off a new 7" series here that aims to pair emerging artists with established names from the label's artistic circle. The opening release introduces Tolyatti producer Pasadena with 'Vodichka Nice', a laid-back, groove-led gem that recalls 'Stepoing Into Tomorrow' era Donald Byrd with its seductive drums, squelchy slow-bass and soft-focus melodic wonder. It's already becoming a fave on the scene and on the reverse, respected producers Scruscru and Tony Lavrutz reshape the original with a remix that leans into deeper club territory, though keeps the bright melodies and inviting horizontal feel. Two sides, two moods, two essential cuts.

The Reflex has been back remixing on his multitracks again and if you have been out anywhere decent in recent times you might already have heard this one as it has been a favourite of those DJs in his inner circle. Finally, the unrelated rework of a legendary disco diva arrives on wax and dazzles from front to back. 'Lolita' has it all - the deft hi hats sliding above funky bass, a rhythm driven by busy piano chords and lung-busting vocal full of burning soul. 'Camels' rides funky, chunky drums and has more expressive tones this time in unison with an off-balance chord sequence and fluttering sax. Lovely stuff.

Rain Dance is the debut album from Bristol-based producer Arcane, released on Over/Shadow. Across eight tracks the record explores atmospheric jungle, drum & bass and breakbeat influences, combining deep bass pressure with rich melodic detail and immersive sound design. The album moves between expansive, journey-like pieces such as “Nebula” and “Metropolis”, heavier dancefloor cuts like “Underground” and “Fear", resulting in a spacious but rhythmically detailed LP that balances classic junglist energy with a cinematic sense of atmosphere.

Finland-based producer Slowct is a new name, but his Panelia EP — the second 12″ to come from the rising DISCO.VERY imprint — lands with a quiet confidence and a rich, sunlit warmth. Pressed in an edition of just 300 copies, vinyl only, this is music that nods to the 90s without ever sounding trapped there: the chord language, the swing, the palette all carry echoes of that golden era, yet the production breathes with a fresh, contemporary clarity.

Across four tracks, Slowct blends house music with hip-hop shuffle, street-soul texture, and Balearic drift. There’s an unhurried, melodic quality here — drums with weight, chords that float rather than pound, melodies that feel both familiar and pleasantly unexpected. Made for summer parties, late drives, and those hazy moments when the sun sits low and the speakers are just loud enough.

On the remix front, GFH (Grooves From Heaven) steps in on “Panavia” and delivers something genuinely singular. Lush and humid, yet unmistakably futuristic. It’s a remix that twists the original into new and wonderful shapes.

2026 Repress
The ocean- the infinity, the beauty, the colour, the sound: a truly seductive place. With the sound of ocean waves Smallville's beloved artist Moomin invites us to enter his second full length album A Minor Thought". A selection of wonderful tracks initiate some exciting house music moments at our favorite clubs, improved at Panorama Bar, Robert Johnson and of course the Golden Pudel among many others.. Engaged with a fantastic collection of analogue synths and drum machines, Moomin is always on a hunt of the most delicate samples. After his big first album The Story About You' and a number of beautiful works on his own imprint Closer", he was already back on Smallville's new little baby Fuck Reality' to deliver a 12 for the 2015 summertime. Of course Moomin was also part of the Smallville 10 years Compilation Smallville Ways' and delivered again for Smallville 46. Now he appears with another string of beauty- A Minor Thought. There will be a lovely fullcover artwork package with printed Inlays for the vinyl version by Smallville's one and only Stefan Marx.

The incredible story that began with The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet (TMMS) now enters an exciting new chapter: Skyscraper, the debut album by FEX.

Skyscraper features ten original tracks recorded in the early to mid-1980s-carefully re-transferred, remastered, and brought back to life. The album cover, designed by Darius S., brings the story full circle. Darius is the very person who preserved the now-iconic track Subways of Your Mind by recording it from NDR radio in the mid-80s. Without him, FEX may never have been discovered.

FEX's debut opens with its namesake, Skyscraper-a brooding, previously unreleased track the band once described as part of their "psychedelic phase." With haunting synth-helicopter textures and deep guitar riffs, it immediately sets the tone and raises tension.

The release flows naturally into the energetic and fully remastered studio version of Subways of Your Mind. This version of the TMMS - re-discovered on the "yellow label tape" by Reddit user Marijn-was long believed to be from a smaller home studio, but was actually recorded in November 1984 at Hawkeye Studios in Ganderkesee, near Hamburg.

Goldrush, first teased in raw form on FEX's YouTube channel, bends toward mechanical rhythm and shimmering synths, a snapshot of the band's experiments with programmed drum machine sound. Rückwardt's lyrics point to greed and criticizes materialism, and while the music leans toward pop sensibilities, it carries a raw, fractured edge.

Heart in Danger and I've Got My Eyes On You offer contrasting experiences-one rooted in classic post-punk tension, the other floating in melodic synth layers. The latter in particular feels like a fragment from a parallel radio history: a precise and one of a kind synth pop love song with a progressive touch.

From a rehearsal tape comes Dirty Slapstick, its urgency intact. Missing keyboard parts were later reconstructed by Michael Hädrich using his original DX7 synthesizer-recovering lost elements without rewriting the past. The lyrics take a wry look at forced optimism. Also included are the songs Talking Hands, Jenny and Strange Feeling, the latter being a slower blues-tinged cut, revealing yet another facet of the band's reach and Rückwardt's songwriting diversity.

The album closes where the legend began-with the original radio recording of Subways of Your Mind from Darius' cassette. This version of The Most Mysterious Song features alternate vocal effects, contributing to the track's enigmatic aura. Digitally transferred using a high-end Revox machine and carefully remastered, it now has its long-deserved official release.

The cover features a photo of the Eichenberg Bunker in Kiel-one of FEX's original rehearsal spaces and a symbolic monument to their sonic legacy.

Nach der Veröffentlichung von „idea 1“, kündigt Kelela ihr neues, drittes Album an, das am 10. Juli bei Warp Records erscheint – und veröffentlicht die zweite Single „linknb“, produziert von Oscar Scheller.

Der Track entstand in einer Phase der Schreibblockade und begann als Mantra, das Kelela schrieb, um sich wieder an die Arbeit zu bringen. Angeführt von einem labyrinthischen Gitarrenriff über treibenden Metal-Drums ist „linknb“ ein Song über Selbstvertrauen, das man sich durch Schwierigkeiten erarbeitet hat, darüber, sich nicht klein machen zu lassen. „Es ist nicht schwer, mutig zu sein / Es ist leichter, zu viel preiszugeben / Ich weiß nur, dass ich den Weg geebnet habe, unterbezahlt.“

Das von Mischa Notcutt inszenierte Video versetzt Kelela in die Mitte einer urbanen Traumlandschaft. Als enger Freund und Kelelas ehemaliger Kreativdirektor war Notcutt die naheliegende Wahl. Das Video lässt Realismus und Abstraktion ineinanderfließen und verwandelt eine einsame Reise in eine Meditation über Selbstfindung und Erneuerung.

Mit „new avatar“ rückt alles, worauf Kelela hingearbeitet hat, in den Fokus. Sie begann ihre ersten Songs in der Indie-Szene von Washington, D.C. zu schreiben, bevor die Clubmusik und die elektronische Produktion, die ihre frühe Karriere prägten, die Oberhand gewannen. Mit „new avatar“ schließt sie den Kreis: R&B, unterlegt mit verzerrten Gitarrenklängen, trifft auf neue Schnittstellen in der Tanzmusik und gipfelt in einem Sound, der aus all den musikalischen Einflüssen schöpft, die sie je geprägt haben. Das Album enthält zudem Kollaborationen mit PinkPantheress, A. K. Paul und Fousheé.

„Dieses Album findet Trost in der Konfrontation“, sagt Kelela. „Ich möchte nicht, dass die Musik von dem ablenkt, was wirklich in der Welt vor sich geht; ich möchte, dass sie in dieser verrückten Zeit Sinn ergibt und den Menschen gleichzeitig hilft, mit der Schönheit und Freude in Kontakt zu kommen, die sie ebenfalls erleben.“

Das Album setzt sich mit einer Welt auseinander, die aus allen Nähten auseinanderfällt, und mit der Klarheit, die das Überleben erfordert.

„Die Leute sollten auch wissen, dass meine Freunde und ich ständig lachen und dass Humor kein Abwehrmechanismus ist; er ist Ausdruck dafür, wie scharfsinnig wir die Dinge einschätzen und wie klar wir die Welt sehen.“

Im Kern schildert „new avatar“ eine vielschichtige Erfahrung, und obwohl die Außenwelt präsent ist, schwächt sie Kelelas Entschlossenheit zu keinem Zeitpunkt.

About Kelela: Throughout her globally revered, boundary-pushing career, Kelela has established a lane of her own in R&B and electronic music. On her long-awaited third album, new avatar, the singer/songwriter (through the versatility of the guitar) challenges perceptions of these genres, while weaving together fragments of lived experiences to shape a world of connection and resilience during times of unrest.

The songs journey through Black femme rage, joy as resistance, Gotham City-esque dystopia, misogynoir, romantic tension, and more. It’s anchored by production that demands a broader rethink about alternative, rock and indie music.

Kelela’s defiant nature has propelled her so far already — from her hometown of Washington, D.C to world stages. In 2013, she released her debut mixtape, Cut 4 Me. She continued solidifying her revolutionary R&B sound with 2015’s Hallucinogen EP, with The New York Times naming its single, “Rewind,” one of the “25 Songs That Tell Us Where Music Is Going”. By 2017, she released her electric debut album Take Me Apart (which was followed by 2018’s TAKE ME A_PART, THE REMIXES), building upon her intimate storytelling.

After a nearly five-year hiatus, she returned in 2023 with her groundbreaking second album, Raven, and its critically-acclaimed counterpart, RAVE:N, The Remixes in 2024. Raven has been hailed as one of the ‘Best Albums of 2023’ by Pitchfork, Billboard, Vulture, Variety, and more, while the remixes solidified her as a leader in the dance music space.

In 2025, Kelela showcased yet another innovative side of her artistry with her live album In The Blue Light, which hit #5 on the Contemporary Jazz chart and #20 on the Jazz Albums chart. Now, with new avatar, Kelela displays the masterful intention she puts into forming new sonic cityscapes. But don’t confuse it with escapism: “I don't want the music to be a distraction from what's really going on in the world; I want it to help you get into it.”

Applying the solid structures of floor-focused Berlin techno to the expressive space of introspective electronica, Answer Code Request returns to Delsin with his first album in eight years. Halo finds Patrick Gr?ser broadening his sound palette more than ever before, matching atmospheric synthesis with dynamic beat constructions true to his impressive legacy while breaking new ground. Across Halo, smoky clouds of pads and chords lend the album an introspective quality in the grand tradition of ambient techno. In front of these haunting melodic forms, Gr?ser is free to explore all manner of rhythmic directions. There are fractured, downtempo micro beats and angular fractals on the likes of 'Fading Shadows' and 'Refraction' that take their cues from breakbeat -- finely detailed drum sequences constantly evolving into new arrangements. A pointed nod to D&B rears its head on the aptly named, hard-edged 'Fracture' and you might hear a firmly submerged hint of ravey acid coursing under 'Sublith'. Elsewhere, the firmer kick-anchored pulse of the classic Answer Code Request sound manifests for more forthright techno excursions such as 'Halo' and 'Bliphar'. In the context of the album, though, these tougher tropes are channeled into mesmerising soundscapes that soften the attack without diminishing the potential for club impact. In this era of his craft, Gr?ser moves instinctively through the sounds and approaches that inspire him, and the end result is an album that feels natural and open, all the while steadily progressing the ongoing evolution of Answer Code Request.

Dieses Jazzensemble ist durch und durch skandinavisch. Schlagzeuger Emil Brandqvist stammt aus Schweden, Pianist Tuomas Turunen aus Finnland und Bassist Max Thornberg ist ebenfalls Schwede. Seit etwa drei Jahren bilden sie das Emil Brandqvist Trio – mit großem Tatendrang und großem Erfolg. »Falling Crystals« heißt ihr drittes Album.

Auch ihre Musik ist typisch skandinavisch: geprägt von unaufgeregten, meditativen Klängen und nordischer Melancholie.

Und obwohl man von einem Trio, das nach seinem Schlagzeuger benannt ist, eigentlich das genaue Gegenteil erwartet, zeigt Emil Brandqvist auf »Falling Crystals« ein weiteres Mal, wie gut musikalische Zurückhaltung klingt. Das hat er bereits mit seinen beiden Vorgängeralben »Breathe Out« (2013) und »Seascapes« (2015) bewiesen, für das der Schlagzeuger unlängst für den Echo Jazz 2016 in der Kategorie »Instrumentalist/in des Jahres international Drums/Percussion« nominiert wurde.

Neben all der Leichtigkeit und Stille des neuen Albums, darf aber nicht vergessen werden, dass es sich dabei auch um herausragende, starke Kompositionen handelt, in dessen Zentrum das Klavier steht.

Beim Emil Brandqvist Trio treffen technische Finesse und punktgenaues Zusammenspiel auf bildhafte, berührende und vor allem eingängige Melodien. »Falling Crystals« bleibt also lange im Gedächtnis – wie der letzte Skandinavienurlaub.

Rezensionen
»Emil Brandqvist scheint ein ausgeglichener Mensch zu sein, der mal ausgelassen und fröhlich daherkommt, aber auch seine nachdenklichen, leiseren Seiten hat.​ Jedenfalls versteht sich der Schlagzeuger darauf, mit seinem Trio heiter, schwungvoll, aber auch bedächtig aufzuspielen.​ In „Through The Forest“ hüpfen die Töne von ihm, dem Pianisten Tuomas Turunen und dem Kontrabassisten Max Thornberg so fröhlich, als hätten sie sich durch Hits von ABBA zu einem Tänzchen inspirieren lassen.​ Mit „Shine“ hingegen bringen sie eine kleine Melodie zum Strahlen, und die Ballade „Longing“ gewinnt durch ausdrucksstarke, stellenweise an Frank Sinatras Intonation erinnernde Klaviermelodien und ein klares Fundament von Bass und Schlagzeug Ausdruck.​ Zu dritt oder im Quartett mit dem Perkussionisten Martin Brandqvist verzichten sie auf virtuose Hochgeschwindkeitspassagen – ihre Stärken sind einerseits das gelassene Ineinandergreifen von Piano und Begleitung und andererseits die Fähigkeit, kurze und einprägsame Melodien abwechslungsreich auszugestalten.​ Mal greifen sie dabei auf minimalistische Variationstechniken zurück, mal setzen sie Brüche, gliedern in Abschnitte, setzen einzelne Segmente hintereinander.​ Im Eröffnungsstück „While We Are Here“ und dem abschließenden Epilog „The Oak Trees“ und „Early Spring“ unterstützt sie das Sjöströmska String Quartet mit flächigen Klängen und aufgefächerten Akkorden, während das Trio in „The Sea Begins To Freeze“ eher auf die Tradition der Minimal Music zurückgreift.​ Die im Titel angesprochenen Kristalle fallen nicht nur, sie funkeln auch.​« (RONDO, Werner Stiefele, 12.​03.​2016)

»Die wahre Schönheit zeigt sich hier nicht an der Oberfläche.​ Brandqvist, Turunen und Thornberg sind wahre Meister darin, elaboriert-komplexe klangliche Architekturen mit einer fein gezeichneten Gradlinigkeit zu entwerfen…Wunderschöne freigeistliche und anrührende Musik.​« (JazzPodium)

»Waren schon die beiden vorherigen CDs (s.​u.​) wertvolle Kostbarkeiten in Sachen Piano-Jazz, so kann das Album „Falling Crystals noch mal einen draufsetzen.​ Ein dermaßen relaxtes, zeitloses und Musikliebhaber aller Couleurs ansprechendes Album hat man selten gesehen.​« (sound&image.​de)

»Falls Ihnen der Name bekannt vorkommt: Vom schwedischen Emil Brandqvist Trio haben wir schon mehrfach geschwärmt, das wunderbare ›Seascapes‹ Ende 2015 gar zu einem Album des Jahres gekürt.​ Nun folgt mit ›Falling Crystals‹ der nächste große Wurf.​ Wieder gelingt es den drei Musikern, ganz simple Ideen zu Stücken von zerbrechlicher Schönheit und anmut zu formen.​ Mal klingt das Trio fast wie Popmusik, mal erweitert es sein Klangspektrum durch ein Streichquartett.​ Dann scheint die berühmte nordische Melancholie noch etwas stärker durch die beührenden Melodien.​« (Stern, 31.​03.​2016)

»Dem Schlagzeuger Emil Brandqvist gelingt mit seinem Jazz-Trio nun bereits zum dritten Mal ein gar nicht mal so einfaches Kunststück: hinreißend schöne, cineastisch ausgreifende Melodien zu schreiben.​« (dpa + Focus)

»Typisch romantische Brandqvist-Art: Eine eingängige Popmelodie wird von schwebenden Streichern unterstützt, fern von darüber gezogenem Pathos.​« (Jazz thing)

»Die klangmalerischen Landschaftsbilder des Trios …entwickeln einen hypnotischen Sog.​« (Hörzu + Gong)

»Erstklassiger Piano-Jazz.​« (In Music)

»Eine stilvoll und -sicher arrangierte Kreuzung aus Pop-Jazz und eingängiger Kammermusik.​« (Nordische Musik.​de)

»Dieses Trio besticht durch herrliche Melodien, welche tief ins Herz gelangen.​ Sounds welche man so schnell nicht vergisst.​ Es scheint als würden die Musiker ein Gemälde von unsagbarere Schönheit malen.​ Dieses Album sticht aus der Masse deutlich heraus.​« (Jazzdrummerworld.​de)

»Um es vorweg zu nehmen, mit Falling Crystals liefert das Emil Brandqvist Trio sein Meisterstück ab.​ Bereits in den letzten Jahren hat sich der Göteborger Schlagzeuger Emil Brandqvist auf vordere Ränge des europäischen Jazz gespielt, sein Trio steht für unaufgeregte, bildhafte und berührende Melodien und Sounds, die lebhaft in Erinnerung bleiben.​« (Medien-Info.​com)

Konzert-Reviews

Poesie- und Literaturfestival Bad Homburg – Lesung mit Max Moor:
»Unterbrochen werden seine Sequenzen vom Emil Brandqvist Trio, einer virtuosen großartigen finnisch-schwedischen Band, die mit magischen und häufig melancholischen Klängen, mit Jazz ganz eigener Prägung, den Inhalt der Geschichte aufgreift, intensiviert und weiterführt.​ .​.​« (Taunus Zeitung)

»Mit ihren besonderen Klangreisen hinterließen sie ein andächtiges und zugleich euphorisches Publikum, das die einzelnen Songs lautstark beklatschte…Einfach exzellent…mit seiner raffiniert gewürzten Lyrik des Nordens.​ Dieser teils magische Jazz bleibt in Erinnerung.​« (shz.​de)

»Klassisches Maß und große Kraft.​« (HNA)

»In die Musik des Emil-Brandqvist-Trios kann man sich wunderbar versenken und sich darin verlieren…« (Haller Tagesblatt)

Double vinyl reissue of Skullflower’s epochal “IIRD GATEKEEPER” album - the first time that this album has been available on vinyl for 30 years. In addition to the original LP this definitive and expanded edition includes extra and unreleased tracks taken from the recording sessions. For the first time all the tracks recorded by the band during this period can be heard together giving fans unprecedented access to material previously only available in the bands’ archives. Recorded in London in 1991 and released in 1992 on Justin “Godflesh” Broadrick’s HeadDirt label in 1992, IIRD GATEKEEPER established a worldwide reputation and following for Skullflower and convinced many who heard it that they had encountered nothing less than the best band on the planet. Arriving at the height of the “grunge” and the expansion of underground guitar “rock” into corporate America, IIRD GATEKEEPER had its roots deep in the UK noise and power-electronics scene. Guitarist Matthew Bower and bassist Anthony Di Franco were both graduates of the Broken Flag school of British noise making with their respective projects PURE, TOTAL and JFK. IIRD GATEKEEPER was Skullflower’s third album and was the first of the band’s albums to feature a consistent line-up throughout its production: Matthew Bower (guitar), Anthony Di Franco on (bass) and Stuart Dennison (drums). Recorded and mixed in four sessions between January and June 1991the tracks on this edition of IIRD GATEKEEPER shows the band’s new line up developing their sound, warping and evolving in real time. As such this edition of IIRD GATEKEEPER provides a unique document of the band in a state of transition, with the chemistry of the individual playing combusting in the studio to create a wave of astonishing creativity. IIRD GATEKEEPER is perhaps the definitive British underground rock album of the 1990’s – unique and never equalled. With this new edition Dirter Promotions allows Skullflower fans old and new to listen to this classic album as it was intended: spark up, crank it up and prepare to have your ears and mind blown

Slope114 are Dmitri SFC & Elise Gargalikis, a duo that makes their house music live from home in San Francisco. That lends it a rare musicality and melodic lushness that sit their work right up there with deep house forefathers. This outing starts with the slouchy goodness and endearing bass of 'Dystopian Blues', complete with aloof vocals that exude cool. The dub is even more pillow and smooth than the Mark Ambrose mix that brings a little more roughness to the drums but still locks into a hypnotic vibe. 'Emu 2' is a gentle rhythm with dusty pads and candle-lit chords for when slow-burn subtlety is prized over immediacy. Classy stuff.

Secret Vault is a new and already essential edit label from what is rumoured to be a group of Far Eastern otakus - a collective term in Japanese for obsessive interests in niche hobbies, in this case, disco. This second drop kicks off with the impossibly joyous and uplifting A-side, with trilling strings that just go up and up and up as the funky drums and elastic male vocals match that energy. Flip it over for an equally euphoric B-side with funky, knotted bass riffs, instrumental grooves and a steamy female vocal. Both are no-brainers for anyone looking to inject big heart into their sets.

Released on Polydor in 1972, He’s Coming captures vibraphonist Roy Ayers at a creative apex, as Ubiquity’s sound settled into the blend of jazz improvisation, funk rhythm, soul harmony, and spiritual import that would define his work throughout the decade. Emerging at the start of the 1970s, the album reflects Ayers’s deepening move toward a groove-centred musical language rooted in soul-jazz and early jazz-funk. The vibraphonist, keyboardist, composer, and bandleader is supported by a core ensemble that includes Harry Whitaker on electric piano, organ, and vocals; John Williams on bass, with Ron Carter featured on ‘We Live in Brooklyn, Baby’; David Lee Jr. and Billy Cobham on drums and percussion; guitarists Sam Brown and Bob Fusco; saxophonist Sonny Fortune; and percussionist Juma Santos. Tracks like ‘He’s a Superstar’, ‘Sweet Butterfly of Love’, and ‘Fire Weaver’ embody the record’s mix of urban narrative, spiritual reflection, and deep rhythmic momentum — qualities that would later make Ayers’s catalogue a source of inspiration for soul, funk, hip-hop, and neo-soul artists.

As anticipation for The Rolling Stones’ Foreign Tongues album grows ever more feverish, the legendary band have served up another irresistible preview with the new single ‘Jealous Lover’. It’s the latest fantastic example of the Stones’ effortless ability to switch between styles, as they glide from the pop-rock dynamism of ‘In The Stars’ to this soulful groove featuring a captivating falsetto lead vocal by Mick Jagger.

Eloquent guitar detail by Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood is further enhanced by the redoubtable rhythm section of Darryl Jones on bass and Steve Jordan on drums and percussion, as well as the Stones’ longtime friend Steve Winwood on Rhodes and organ. ‘Jealous Lover’ continues the band’s lifelong love affair with R&B, as Mick delivers a “hands off” message to an over-inquisitive partner with such whip-smart lyrics as “You pray like a mantis, you’re emerald green”

New 4-track Ep From Austin, Texas Analogue Hardware Enthusiast Bill Converse. Immersed In The Early Days Of The 90s Midwest Rave Scene, Bill Began Djing At A Young Age In Lansing, Michigan. Luminaries Such As Claude Young, Traxx, And Derrick May Were Key Early Influences. Techno, Noise, Ambient And Tape Processing Are All Part Of His Uncanny Sound Palette. His Debut Album 'meditations/industry' Was Released On Cassette In 2013 And Edited For A Vinyl Release On Dark Entries In 2016 Followed By Two 12' Singles 'warehouse Invocation' And '7 Of 9' The Same Year. In 2017 Converse Released His Second Album 'the Shape Of Things To Come' Followed By The Double Ep 'salt Of Mars'.

'hulled' Is A 25 Minute Journey Spread Across 4 Tracks Of Glacial Abandon. All Tracks Were Recorded Directly To Tape With No Overdubs, Made At Converse's Home Studio. Bill Says These Tracks Represent 'ocean Waves In Stormy Conditions, Dark Grey Blue Water, Or More Generally Speaking Something Ominous And Beautiful.' The Songs On This Album Reveal A Sublime Influence From Detroit Techno, Idm, And Acid. Built Around Vintage Synthesizer Lines And Gritty Drum Machine Percussion, The Tracks Ebb And Flow Like The Effect Of Sun Shimmering On Water, Woozy, Gauzy And Ephemeral. All Songs Were Mastered For Vinyl By George Horn At Fantasy Studios In Berkeley.

Each Ep Is Housed In A Die-cute Jacket Designed By Eloise Leigh With Peachy Pink Patterns Landing On An Alien Water Planet And Seeing Mysterious Playing Forms Under The Turquoise Water. Each Copy Includes A Postcard Featuring Photo Of Bill With Notes.

Cat.no.: De 222
Format: Ep

Tracklisting

Now here is a special one. Soul legend Leon Ware makes a posthumous debut on Cataleya Music with For The Rainbow. This beautiful song is an album track from 2019’s Rainbow Deux, which was released two years after his passing. For The Rainbow has been remixed expertly by Coflo and Laroye. Coflo supplies three remixes! His ‘Original Retouch’ is closest to the midtempo original, enhancing the percussive elements slightly housewards and letting those piano keys work to their fullest. The Coflo Remix employs organ keys and has the vibe of classic NYC vocal House ala Blaze etc. His Backside mix is more subtle and spiritual. Laroye closes out the release with a smart broken beat revision, where bouncing drums dance between the positive vocals. A really classy package!

For our third celebratory release for 30 years of Ten Lovers Music we have another Various Artist selection called Frisson EP Part B. Kicking off the A side we have Mike Perras from Canada with Handle With Care, a superb opener, deep house with a saxophone solo that certainly gave us Frisson the first time we heard it. Following on is Takahiro Fuchigami from Japan with Wired City, another dark broken beat masterpiece made for the dancefloor. Onto to the AA side we have someone who is an integral piece of the Ten Lovers Music family Jose Rico from Spain who joins forces with Ruben Valero for Harmonies & Melodies, they draft in Anthonious on the Rhodes and it’s a deep house masterpiece. Finally Lobos Marinos from Japan, band leader Kazutaka Miya brings in Miki Hirose on the Trumpet and Shin Kowaka on Drums.

Winter Collection arrives a little late, but it arrives right. Four tracks across two sides, drawing from Chicago, Detroit, Oakland, and Portland, mastered for DMM cut by Lawrie Dunster of Curve Pusher. The vinyl sounds like it means business.

The A-side opens with the Bryan Zentz Remix of Basic Analogue, originally written and produced by Mazi and Joshua Collins. Dunster’s remaster serves the synth work well, keeping the melodic lines clear and the low end present without overcrowding the mix. Zentz built something durable here, and the vinyl pressing confirms it.

Sound Whore by DJ Mes follows, and Mes doesn’t waste any time. The wah-wah guitar arrives early, the trumpet not far behind, and then the Latin percussion and vocal samples start stacking up. It’s a lot, but Mes holds it together with a groove that keeps pulling everything back toward center. You don’t resist it. You just follow.

The B-side belongs to the most requested track in the label’s catalog, and it’s easy to understand why. Mike Huckaby’s remix of Cesar Ramirez’s Congo Fury anchors itself to a conga line and then opens outward, synth lines drifting across the rhythm like smoke. Huckaby had a particular gift for this, the ability to make a moment feel like it could last forever without ever losing tension. Ramirez’s own keyboard solo survives toward the end, a subtle crescendo that feels earned. Dunster captures the whole thing with care.

It’s Time to Jack by Da Outlawz closes the record. 909 drums, cracking snares, chopped vocal fragments. Barebones Chicago house, designed for a sound system that can take the weight. Nothing complicated about it, and that’s the point.

Play it loud.

Track A1 written and produced by Maziar Namvar and Joshua Collins. Remixed by Bryan Zentz.
Track A2 written and produced by Jason Sutton.
Track B1 written and produced by Cesar Ramirez. Remixed by Mike Huckaby.
Track B2 written and produced by Gabriel Palomo & Geto Mark.
Mastered by Lawrie Dunster at Curve Pusher, UK.
Copyright Control
2026 Fresh Meat Records

Shorter Version

Winter Collection arrives a little late, but it arrives right. Four tracks across two sides, drawing from Chicago, Detroit, Oakland, and Portland, mastered for DMM cut by Lawrie Dunster of Curve Pusher. The A-side opens with the Bryan Zentz Remix of Basic Analogue, originally written and produced by Mazi and Joshua Collins. Dunster’s remaster keeps the melodic lines clear and the low end present. Zentz built something durable here, and the vinyl confirms it. Sound Whore by DJ Mes follows. The wah-wah guitar arrives early, the trumpet not far behind, then Latin percussion and vocal samples start stacking up. Mes holds it together with a groove that keeps pulling everything back toward center. You just follow. Mike Huckaby’s remix of Cesar Ramirez’s Congo Fury anchors itself to a conga line and opens outward, synth lines drifting across the rhythm like smoke. Huckaby had a gift for making a moment feel like it could last forever without losing tension. Ramirez’s keyboard solo survives toward the end, a subtle crescendo that feels earned. It’s Time to Jack by Da Outlawz closes the record. 909 drums, cracking snares, chopped vocal fragments. Barebones Chicago house, designed for a sound system that can take the weight. Play it loud.

San Dee, TMD - Watif EP - Command Center Records - CCRE001

Command Center Records operates as a unified collective, independent label, and boutique online shop that actively energizes the local Miami community. Launched in 2019, the brand champions multiple musical styles. curating a wide array of genres while amplifying dance music to the forefront.

San Dee and TMD team up to launch this debut vinyl effort, delivering a heavy-hitting release of deep, minimal house and breaks. Across four tracks, "Watif" engineers a landscape of floor-shaking groovers, fusing sub-heavy kicks and rolling bass lines with layering drum machine textures and analog synths.

House titan Adam Collins contributes TWO masterwork Watif remixes that incinerate peak-hour sets. With the first Remix, a deeper rhythmic breakbeat and slapping hi-hats that slightly varies from the original. The second remix, being the Top Down Mix, packs a groovy Detroit electro-house feel, that you'll find yourself cruising at high speed with the top down.

Rounding out the EP is “Listening Minds" which transports the audience through a cosmic soundscape, while a recurring voice instructs the room to "Listen."

Pappenheimer – Stolen Memory Pt. 1 + Pt. 2 (Vinyl) bringt die rohe Energie und kompromisslose Klangästhetik des deutschen Techno-Acts Pappenheimer auf den Punkt. Diese Vinyl vereint beide Teile der Stolen Memory-Reihe und liefert treibende Beats, düstere Atmosphären und präzise produzierte Sounddesigns für den Club und darüber hinaus.

Mit druckvollen Rhythmen und hypnotischer Intensität steht diese Veröffentlichung für modernen, kraftvollen Techno – ideal für Sammler und alle, die elektronische Musik am liebsten analog und in voller Tiefe erleben

Pleasant Systems 014 brings together David Böning and Phillip Kluge for Moonbathed and Sunkissed, a four-track EP rooted in rough-edged ’90s deep house and early protohouse aesthetics. Split across two sides, the record moves through dusty drum machines, stripped-back grooves, raw basslines, and understated club energy. Drawing inspiration from classic US house music without slipping into nostalgia, both producers deliver tracks built for smoke-filled rooms, early morning floors and selectors who like things deep, direct and slightly worn around the edges.

With Agenda EP, Tom Carruthers closes a landmark trilogy on Skylax Records, following Neutralise EP and Deepline. Three records. Fifteen tracks. One coherent vision of machine-driven house music stripped to its raw, functional core. This final chapter dives deeper into direct, club-focused energy, where groove, repetition and tension do the talking. Agenda is less reflective, more physical — built for movement, sweat, and long transitions in dark rooms. Opening track “Chrome” sets the tone: sharp drum programming, metallic pressure, and looping synth phrases that lock the body into motion. “Agenda (Raw Mix)” follows with a tougher, stripped-down approach — no excess, just pure rhythmic insistence rooted in early Chicago jack and warehouse discipline. “Beat Down” pushes further into machine funk territory, where relentless patterns and rugged textures meet in hypnotic repetition. On the flip, “Fade Away” brings a deeper, moodier tension — a late-night track where subtle emotion seeps through minimal structures. Closing cut “What You Want” is classic Carruthers: jacking drums, understated melody, and a groove that feels timeless rather than retro. As with the previous releases, the visual identity is handled by H5, whose modernist, reduced artwork mirrors the sonic philosophy: clarity, impact, and purpose. Agenda EP completes the Skylax trilogy as a statement of intent — not revivalism, not nostalgia, but dance music reduced to its essential elements.

Written in the wake of a relocation year that quietly rewired the Australian-Macedonian DJ/Producer’s instincts, the latest record on Aldonna’s own Re-leaf Imprint trades the melodic density of earlier work for something more intimate, immediate, and bodily. ‘Infatuate’ closes the gap between what she is making and what Aldonna is reaching for in her record bag. That shift manifests in a tighter focus on groove. Gritty, swung drum samples lifted and reshaped from vinyl, FX drenched stabs flickering through delays, and basslines that feel less composed than inhabited.

The A-side rides a continuous low-end groove. The environments that shaped these tracks are still embedded in them: the sunburnt euphoria of a Brussels day party bleeds into “Squeaky,” while “Keep Up” captures the nervous, sleepless churn of a Berlin weekend on the edge of breakthrough.

The B-side’s “My Dear” softens into something more viscous and intimate, its warmth underscored by Aldonna’s own spoken word vocal in the Macedonian language, an understated but pointed nod toward underrepresented Balkan textures in club music. The EP rounds off with a functional remix from Berlin’s ‘Revivis’, applying his signature rolling sound to ‘My Dear’.

As a whole, the record feels deliberately situational, equally at home under low red lights in a sweat-slicked club or stretched across a festival system in broad daylight, but always orbiting that same core impulse: to pull bodies closer, lock them into the groove, and let everything else dissolve.

ORANGE - Limited Edition! SPANDAU20 returns, bridging Berlin and UK lineage, with new material from Mr. G, Elli Acula, FJAAK and Dajusch, continuing to showcase the many shades of contemporary club music through its forward-facing approach. On its 12th release, the Berlin label presents a record that reflects individual artistry as much as the unmistakable identity of the SPANDAU20 sound. Opening the release is Mr. G with 'I Came To See You'. The track is a true embodiment of his distinctive production style, unfolding through bouncing basslines, swinging percussion and hypnotic looping vocals and capturing the raw spirit of old-school dance music with fresh spirit. Sitting somewhere between house and techno, it sets the tone with a particular kind of hypnosis, taking the listeners deep into the endlessly circling groove. Elli Acula follows with 'Take One Higher', a fierce and uncompromising techno track that perfectly reflects the label's hallmark aesthetic. She channels the raw energy of the 90s through a modern lens, pairing rough edged stabs, cavernous kicks and gritty percussion programmed with unfiltered dancefloor intensity in mind. The result is a high-pressure track designed to fully consume the room. On the flip side, FJAAK unleash 'Drip Code', showcasing the duo's signature blend of powerful low-end pressure and analogue grooves. Having spent over a decade shaping Berlin's techno landscape through their machine-driven approach, the pair deliver crisp percussion, huge open hi-hats and teeth-rattling drum machine combinations, while racing chords and looping vocals propel the track forward. It is a direct and highly effective example of the energy that has come to define the SPANDAU20 universe. Closing the release is Dajusch with 'Tongue In Cheek'. Deeply influenced by the foundational sounds of Detroit and Chicago, the classically trained producer leans into warmer, more uplifting territory. The track combines grooving basslines, saturated 909 percussion and piano-led melodies with disco-tinged vocal loops that glide effortlessly across the arrangement. This closer highlights Dajusch's refined understanding of groove, texture and atmosphere, rounding off the release with a distinctly euphoric touch. SPANDAU20 012 is another example of classy production skills merged with genuine dancefloor purpose. As ever, the label lets the music speak for itself. The many shades of sound are on full display, bound together by the singular identity that has made SPANDAU20 one of Berlin's most distinctive voices in the electronic music landscape.

SPANDAU20 returns, bridging Berlin and UK lineage, with new material from Mr. G, Elli Acula, FJAAK and Dajusch, continuing to showcase the many shades of contemporary club music through its forward-facing approach. On its 12th release, the Berlin label presents a record that reflects individual artistry as much as the unmistakable identity of the SPANDAU20 sound. Opening the release is Mr. G with 'I Came To See You'. The track is a true embodiment of his distinctive production style, unfolding through bouncing basslines, swinging percussion and hypnotic looping vocals and capturing the raw spirit of old-school dance music with fresh spirit. Sitting somewhere between house and techno, it sets the tone with a particular kind of hypnosis, taking the listeners deep into the endlessly circling groove. Elli Acula follows with 'Take One Higher', a fierce and uncompromising techno track that perfectly reflects the label's hallmark aesthetic. She channels the raw energy of the 90s through a modern lens, pairing rough edged stabs, cavernous kicks and gritty percussion programmed with unfiltered dancefloor intensity in mind. The result is a high-pressure track designed to fully consume the room. On the flip side, FJAAK unleash 'Drip Code', showcasing the duo's signature blend of powerful low-end pressure and analogue grooves. Having spent over a decade shaping Berlin's techno landscape through their machine-driven approach, the pair deliver crisp percussion, huge open hi-hats and teeth-rattling drum machine combinations, while racing chords and looping vocals propel the track forward. It is a direct and highly effective example of the energy that has come to define the SPANDAU20 universe. Closing the release is Dajusch with 'Tongue In Cheek'. Deeply influenced by the foundational sounds of Detroit and Chicago, the classically trained producer leans into warmer, more uplifting territory. The track combines grooving basslines, saturated 909 percussion and piano-led melodies with disco-tinged vocal loops that glide effortlessly across the arrangement. This closer highlights Dajusch's refined understanding of groove, texture and atmosphere, rounding off the release with a distinctly euphoric touch. SPANDAU20 012 is another example of classy production skills merged with genuine dancefloor purpose. As ever, the label lets the music speak for itself. The many shades of sound are on full display, bound together by the singular identity that has made SPANDAU20 one of Berlin's most distinctive voices in the electronic music landscape.

Still compelled by the space they first opened, Gūsū returns with a second release, “Inhabiting Me”. What began as a shared approach, sprouted from intuition, has grown denser and more defined, holding on to that same fragility and openness. The duo continues to befriend with contrast, friction and proximity, shaping a language that inhabits their uncommon ground.

Vintage drum machines, tape delays and bass guitar widen the sonic ground, adding pulse, grain and instability, while the guzheng holds its place in full clarity. Each sound source becomes each other’s ornament, forming to gesture the next currents.

What emerges is less a fixed composition than a shifting form: precise in detail, impossible to contain. Listeners who have experienced Gūsū’s live performances will recognise this rare quality: a music of great sensitivity that expands with quiet force, drawing them inward rather than confronting them directly. The sound fades, re-enters, and leaves behind the trace of a lighthearted heaviness, echoing back in fragments, reappearing in memory with altered weight and colour.

Time bends inward and tones return altered. Between repetition and resonance, a tensile form begins to emerge. Neither nostalgic nor futuristic, neither static nor loose. Gūsū does not merge its materials into one smooth surface; it lets them stand close enough to sharpen one another.

Gūsū is a transcultural music project born from the confluence of two distinct artistic voices: Xueyan Chen and Nicolas Balmer. Together, they create a complex dialogue of sound that bridges the ancient and the modern, exploring the liminal spaces between tradition and experimentation. Gūsū’s inception was serendipitous, sparked by a shared stage in late 2022. What began as spontaneous improvisations has since evolved into a profound collaboration. The duo has performed under various monikers, finding their ultimate identity in the name Gūsū, a nod to both heritage and transformation.

Sciahri and Sublunar are happy to welcome back Clotur with his new EP, One Touch. A release that highlights Clotur’s ability to blend refined groove structures with a distinctive and instantly recognisable sonic language. The EP opens with One Touch, a deep and seductive cut enriched by Suēno’s distinctive vocal, creating one of those tracks that instantly stays in your head. It then moves into Drummz, driven by dynamic and unpredictable rhythms, refined groove work and a strong sense of movement. On the flip side, Endless Love blends deep, repetitive structures with a balance of modern and old-school influences, before closing the vinyl with Fragments of Us, a track that perfectly captures Clotur’s talent for unique sound exploration, paired with an infectious bassline that lingers long after. With this EP, Clotur further establishes himself as one of the most distinctive and hard-to-replicate artists in the current scene.

Isometric is an upcoming hardgroove album by Slovenian DJ and producer UMEK and his hardgroove alter-ego Polyvinyl, released on his own imprint 1605 GROOVESECTOR.

The album features a blend of groove-infused tracks, including originals like Isometric, Unlockable Formations, Mechanically Intensive, and Da Flute.

UMEK, born Uros Umek in Ljubljana, Slovenia, is a techno pioneer who kickstarted Slovenia's electronic music scene with illegal raves in the early '90s. With over three decades of influence, he's released on labels like Drumcode, Filth on Acid and Tronic. As the founder of 1605, UMEK has shaped the genre with hits like "Lanicor" and "Gatex," consistently topping Beatport charts. His relentless production and 100+ annual gigs-from Berlin's underground clubs to festivals like EDC, Ultra and Creamfields-cement his status as a global techno ambassador.

Founded by UMEK in 2007, 1605 Music Therapy boasts over 300 releases, featuring artists like Sam
Wolfe, Maddix, and Space 92. The hardgroove sublabel 1605 GROOVESECTOR was founded in 2024 to give home to UMEK's groovier creations and his alter-ego Polyvinyl, as well as other artists, such as the legendary Hertz and a fast-rising Khabiar.

Available in both vinyl and digital formats, the project continues UMEK's long-standing contribution to the techno scene through rhythmic grooves and club-ready energy.

Better late than never, we’re incredibly excited to finally announce a very special upcoming release on our label.
One of the most rewarding aspects of music is its ability to create meaningful connections across borders and cultures. Through that shared language, we connected with rush2theUnknown, a Japan- and New Zealand-based duo with roots in the foundation New
Zealand jungle / drum & bass scene, and it’s a true privilege to now be releasing their music. Ancient / Future is a journey through time, influence, and emotion. Drawing from the duo’s diverse musical backgrounds and inspirations, the EP bridges ancient echoes with futuristic
sound design, balancing antediluvian nostalgia and far-future energy in equal measure.

Bei dem Album ‘November 89’ handelt es sich um eine Auswahl von sehr frühen GAS Stücken, die zum Teil noch in den späten 1980er Jahren entstanden sind. Sie wurden erstmalig 2008 als CD-Einleger in dem Kunst Bildband Wolfgang Voigt GAS auf Raster Noton veröffentlicht.

Ebenso wie bei den Fotos im Buch handelt es sich bei den Stücken um frühe Vorläufer-Werke,

die in den Folgejahren mit den Alben ‘Zauberberg’ und ‘Königsforst’ zum stilprägenden, audiovisuellen Gesamtkunstwerk aus hypnotisch-fokussierten Waldbildern und abstrakt-psychedelischem Soundrauschen aus Alphorn und Bassdrum werden sollten.

Nun gibt es das Album erstmalig auf Vinyl. Damit wird die bisherige GAS Vinyl-Serie um das bisher fehlende „Erste“ Album quasi vervollständigt.

Das Covermotiv nimmt direkt Bezug auf das 1999 erschienene Album Oktember. Das sehr hypnotisch-verdichtete Waldmotiv war Grundlage für einen der ersten Waldloops Oktember, die es über die Jahre zunehmend in internationale Galerien und Kunstspielstätten geschafft haben.

Teil der Album-Veröffentlichung November 89 sind 2 Siebdruck-Editionen (je 30 + 3A.P.)

Edition 1 - November 89 - 2026 / 30cm x 30cm Siebdruck, Klebeband auf Aluminiumplatte.

Edition 2 - November 89 - 2026 / 30cm x 30cm Siebdruck, Klebeband auf Papier.

Beide Editionen bestehen aus je 3 x 10 nicht priorisierten Farbvariationen.

Die Editionen sind exklusiv nur über Kompakt erhältlich.

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The album ‘November 89’ comprises a selection of very early GAS tracks, some of which date back to the late 1980s. They were first released in 2008 as a CD insert in the art book ‘Wolfgang Voigt GAS’, published on Raster-Noton.

Just like the photographs in the book, these pieces are early precursors that would evolve in the ensuing years with the albums ‘Zauberberg’ and ‘Königsforst’ into a style-defining, audiovisual “Gesamtkunstwerk” (total work of art) comprising hypnotically focused forest imagery and an abstract, psychedelic wash of sound created by alphorn and bass drum.

The album is now available on vinyl for the first time. This effectively completes the existing GAS vinyl series by adding the "first" album, which had previously been missing.

The cover art makes direct reference to the album ‘Oktember’, released in 1999. The highly hypnotic, dense forest motif served as the basis for one of the first ‘Oktember’ Waldloops (forest-loops) works that have increasingly found their way into international galleries and art venues over the years.

The ‘November 89’ album release includes two screen-print editions (30 copies + 3 A.P.s each).

Edition 1 - November 89 2026 / 30 cm x 30 cm Screen print and adhesive tape on aluminum panel.

Edition 2 - November 89 2026 / 30 cm x 30 cm Screen print and adhesive tape on paper.

Each edition consists of three sets of ten color variations, with no specific hierarchy among them.

These editions are available exclusively through Kompakt.

First Word Records proudly present ‘One 4 Detroit’; the third single from Above The Clouds (aka kidkanevil & Magic Manfred), complete with a remix by 14KT.

This 7" vinyl release follows on from last Summer's MF DOOM cover 'Arrow Root', which received strong support from the likes of Japan's DJ Koco and Philadelphia's DJ Jazzy Jeff, and their recent cover of ‘Change’ which was originally by Shadez of Brooklyn, most notably appearing on DJ Premier's 1997 mix album 'New York Reality Check 101.

One of the original First Word roster, UK Producer/DJ and all-round laptop music geek kidkanevil has developed a distinctive and progressive sound over the years, gleefully exploring the beats and bleeps of the electronic music universe to international recognition. Leeds born, sound system bred and raised on a (un)healthy diet of video games and anime, his solo work inhabits the curious space between bass frequencies and otaku culture. But as a devoted teenage backpack rap nerd, somewhere in the back of kid's mind was a lingering desire to reconnect with his first love, hip hop.

Not long after moving to Berlin he joined a studio space in graffiti plastered Kreuzberg, where he met multi instrumentalist wizard Magic Manfred; a disciple of all things boogie, disco, funk and soul. Born and raised in Berlin, and currently a touring musician for many an act, Manfred's musical map joins the dots from piano lessons at four, to starting a band with his teenage friends, leading him to his true calling - the bass - via the club vibrations of his hometown, which introduced him to the world of DJing and production, and a stint studying in the explosive London jazz scene to finalise his Jedi training.

Bonding over their mutual love of '90s hip hop, a friendship and musical kinship developed, coupled with a desire to honour past eras but push things forward, Above The Clouds was born; named after their joint favourite Primo beat, with a touch of irony regarding their basement based studio of a windowless variety.

kidkanevil explains that “after we made a bunch of piano joints it felt like time for a switch up, I had these raw drums looped and Manfred started playing this simple synth line on the Prophet - it kind of happened in an instant. This one was really a case of capture a moment and let it be. It had this cold, industrial bounce to it that really felt ‘Detroit’ somehow, so it became something of a tribute to that sound. Obviously there’s a rich musical history there that’s beyond anything we could encapsulate, but I hope the respect comes across. From Berlin to the D with love!


We felt pretty strongly that if we’re gonna nod to Detroit, we needed a remix from someone who reps there directly. I’ve been a fan of 14KT since the early 2000s beat scene, and as he’d previously released music on First Word, it made perfect sense to approach him. We asked and did he oblige!! I’m very comfortable saying we got schooled! He really blessed us with an amazing remix that brought a life and soul to what was originally a pretty stark beat, we’re super honoured to have this as our first ever remix.


‘U3P1’ (named after a synth preset so we didn’t forget!) is on the flip - this also came about pretty fast. I was thinking Ummah-era Tribe with the drums, and Manfred once again put down this super nice riff and it grew from there. It kinda felt like it needed some trumpet and it's always nice to highlight some of the amazing musicianship lurking beyond the club systems here in Berlin, so we called up Berlin based trumpeter and composer Paolo de Jesus, who blessed us with a beautiful performance and arrangement. And that was that; we hope you enjoy!”

‘One 4 Detroit / U3P1’ is released on limited 7" vinyl & digital platforms, June 12th 2026.


b 02: One For Detroit (14KT Remix) feat. 14KT


b 02: One For Detroit (14KT Remix) feat. 14KT


[b] 02: One For Detroit (14KT Remix) [feat. 14KT]


[b] 02: One For Detroit (14KT Remix) [feat. 14KT]


[b] A2 | One For Detroit (14KT Remix) [feat 14KT]

French electric producer RONI lands on fragrance with four powerful tracks, as part of her EP ‘amor fati’.

From the pulsating, kinetic energy of 2knymph to the propulsive, percussive force of Pulse, each track is layered with textured synth work, crisp drums and immersive electronic atmospheres designed for movement.

EP includes a remix by Big Ever who elevates the record into even more dynamic, club-ready hit.