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Bling bling akashics, the new EP “Bandido” is here. Five direct shots for the dancefloor by Demian aka Ariel Me Llamo.

Side A hits hard with raw, energetic rocker vibes while Side B drifts deeper into dreamy, hypnotic techno territory.

Two different sides, same late-night spirit — sweaty dances that slowly turn into full trance. Expect raw sounds, heavy basslines, and hypnotic patterns. heavy basslines, and hypnotic patterns.

BOOH opens the record with a slow subterranean rumble before the machine locks in with full force. Welding Groove is a dense and relentless techno tool, built on a heavy low-end foundation and punctuated by sharp breaks that release tension only to snap back harder. A floor-ready opener that sets the tone for what follows.

Powder wastes no time. The groove hits from the first bar, driving forward with precision and urgency through a series of tightly chopped breaks before the bass reclaims the floor. Physical, direct, and built for the peak hours.

BOOH flips the record with Spectrum, the most patient track of the four. A long, layered intro slowly stacks elements one by one before the groove finally takes over and holds its ground without letting up. Wide and immersive, it carries the energy of a long set deep into the night.

Jackson Poliakov is the most unpredictable of the bunch. Opening with a wide, full-spectrum groove, it shifts midway into darker, more hypnotic territory before a final break brings everything back for the closing stretch. Two faces in one track, and the perfect way to close this chapter.

A classic reissued. “The Sublime” was the deeper side of Rick Lenoir and Larry Thompson’s (LNR) psyche. With additional keys from Aaron Smith (UBQ Project), the title fit the groove – simply sublime. “Bubbles” bring us back to the harder, tougher side of the Tikkle team.

Bubbles is both inspired and inspiring, paying homage to the deepest of Chicago grooves woven together for the dance floor.

Fader Cap returns with a hypnotic hybrid of sampled tapes, bucket-brigade delays and hard-hitting drum machine rhythms.
FC invites DJ Mindleaf & The Herbalist (Sleep D in disguise) for an ‘erbed up re-rub on this heavyweight 2-tracker via his label s2i Recordings.

They say the herb is the toothpaste of the soul.

300 units.

Shooting Daggers are a band that never seems to stop. Sal, Bea and Raquel are one of the hardest working outfits out there, constantly playing shows and lending their support to myriad causes all around the U.K. and Europe. So, it’s always an exciting prospect when the band takes some time out from the maelstrom to write and record new material. And 2 years on from the release of their acclaimed debut album ‘Love & Rage’ the band have been in Bear Bites Horse Studio with Wayne Adams (Big Lad, Green Lung) at the controls to come up with the goods once again. ‘The Real Life Thing’ is the latest hardcore sonic missive from one of London’s must-see bands, and it absolutely does not disappoint. Shooting Daggers are the real deal; the best, and most exciting and adventurous hardcore-inspired band in the country. A ‘mini album‘. 7 songs and 20 minutes of driving rocket fuelled punk meets melody picking up from their debut to go further into their own space. A selection of songs that are marked by a fierce energy, variety and cool musical nous, but always with a message firmly at its core. The band says … ‘It's a crucial time to focus on what really matters. Be present, be aware of real things happening in the world, with integrity and love we can make a difference as a community. There is hope out there, and if we all start treating nature, people and animals with respect and empathy we will be able to become better humans and coexist. In this mini album, we express the full range of our emotions through various sounds and genres. From cheerfulness to anger and hopefulness.

From hardcore punk, to shoegaze, to post hardcore and riot grrrl. We embrace our authentic self, with sensitivity in response to injustice, we act out, and all the while savouring every moment, being unapologetically yourself, empowering ourselves and each other’. With the help of some very special guests in the form of ‘The Menstrual Cramps' and Dennis Lyxzén from Refused, that message is driven home ‘big time’. ‘Adrenaline’ is as full on and heavy as Daggers have ever been, all buzzsaw riffs and rousing vocals, it’s a smart and catchy punch in the face to kick off proceedings. ‘My Oh My’ sweetens the vibe if only a bit with its layered post shoegaze guitars and anthemic vocals, exquisitely arranged we may add. It really shows how Daggers have taken the 90’s elements from Love & Rage and expanded it into something all their own. ‘T.R.L.T.’ back to ‘in yer face’ Daggers trademark off kilter punk, chants, fast bit, slow bits all straight into your head. ‘We just Wanna Play’ is, as Daggers put it ... ‘Empowering playground song for girls and queers to sing and play’. The perfect intro to … ‘Loud Mouths’ the first track to feature bestie guesties ‘The Menstrual Cramps’. A riotous call to arms. We are united with our sisters and queer folks in punk and hardcore, queercore is strong and more alive than ever. Together we will denounce problematic behaviours unapologetically, we won't shut up. Things must change and it’s happening when problems are pointed out and sorted. The scene is for everybody, and we are making it happen’. ‘Le Soleil’ is another step forward … a left field, almost dubby vibe with a dreamy melodic swirling vocal performance from Sal.

When Daggers decide to step outside the box, they do it seductively in style. ‘Glow’ is the second collaboration; this one featuring Dennis Lyxzén from Refused on dual vocal duties. A no brainer it seems … ‘Refused has been a band that never wanted to fit in with a specific sound, they are pioneers of experimental punk while still being rooted in hardcore. They believe in what we believe in, antifascism, veganism, social justice and Dennis on stage is anything but a generic hardcore singer’. It’s a celebration. It’s fuzzy, it's hooky and it’s heavy with, dare we say it, a bit of My Bloody Valentine in there too, generic hardcore it is not. And that pretty much sums up ‘The Real Life Thing’. This album and this band are anything but ‘generic’. They never stand still and continue to push the boundaries of what is ‘hardcore’ or ‘punk’ or whatever people think they are. T.R.L.T. is a delight and a surprise from start to finish, refreshing, abrasive, melodic and with a true beating heart. Embrace it.

Maximum Penalty wurden 1986 gegründet und gelten als eine der einzigartigsten Bands, die während der Blütezeit des New Yorker Hardcore entstanden sind. Die Band, die von Sänger Jimmy Williams ins Leben gerufen wurde und 1988 durch den Gitarristen Joseph Affe verstärkt wurde, begann mit schnellem Hardcore-Punk und entwickelte sich nach und nach zu etwas Größerem, angetrieben von melodischen Rhythmen und gefühlvollem, klarem Gesang. Maximum Penalty war von Anfang an ein fester Bestandteil legendärer Veranstaltungsorte wie CBGB und Coney Island High und tourte in den 90er Jahren auch durch Nordamerika und Europa, wo sie die Bühne mit Bands wie Agnostic Front, Madball, Sick Of It All und Gorilla Biscuits teilten. Die erste Schaffensphase von Maximum Penalty umfasste eine beeindruckende Diskografie - ,Demo 89", die EP ,East Side Story" von 1995, die LP ,Independent" von 1996, die LP ,Super Life" von 1997 sowie eine Reihe von Titeln auf verschiedenen Compilations, darunter ,Where The Wild Things Are" und ,Satisfaction Guaranteed" von Blackout Records. Maximum Penalty tauchte 2009 mit der LP ,Life & Times" (Reaper Records) wieder auf und brachte ihren Sound neuen und alten Hörern näher. Der Einfluss, den Maximum Penalty auf die moderne Hardcore-Szene hatte, ist unbestreitbar. Turnstile nahm die Band in eine einflussreiche Playlist auf, und der Hardlore-Podcast erklärte Maximum Penalty zu einer der ,am meisten unterschätzten Hardcore-Bands". Im Jahr 2025 veröffentlichte die Hardcore-Band End It aus Baltimore ein Cover von ,Could You Love Me?" aus dem 1996er Album ,Independent", hauchte dem Titel neues Leben ein und veranlasste Fans, das Original zu entdecken. Zum 30-jährigen Jubiläum wird ,Independent" zum ersten Mal überhaupt auf Vinyl gepresst, und zwar über Flatspot Records. Gitarrist Joseph Affe bemerkt: ,Maximum Penaltys ,Independent` ist das einzige Album, das nie auf Vinyl erschienen ist, da Vinyl zu der Zeit, als es auf CD veröffentlicht wurde, nur eine Nebensache war. Während wir weiter spielten und neue Veröffentlichungen herausbrachten, war die Veröffentlichung von ,Independent` auf Vinyl etwas, das wir schon immer tun wollten, und nun sind wir endlich, 30 Jahre später, so weit. Die ,Independent`-Ära war eine großartige Zeit in der Geschichte von Maximum Penalty - es bedeutet uns sehr viel, zu sehen, dass ein neues Publikum die Platte zum ersten Mal entdeckt, das ist unglaublich!"

Maximum Penalty wurden 1986 gegründet und gelten als eine der einzigartigsten Bands, die während der Blütezeit des New Yorker Hardcore entstanden sind. Die Band, die von Sänger Jimmy Williams ins Leben gerufen wurde und 1988 durch den Gitarristen Joseph Affe verstärkt wurde, begann mit schnellem Hardcore-Punk und entwickelte sich nach und nach zu etwas Größerem, angetrieben von melodischen Rhythmen und gefühlvollem, klarem Gesang. Maximum Penalty war von Anfang an ein fester Bestandteil legendärer Veranstaltungsorte wie CBGB und Coney Island High und tourte in den 90er Jahren auch durch Nordamerika und Europa, wo sie die Bühne mit Bands wie Agnostic Front, Madball, Sick Of It All und Gorilla Biscuits teilten. Die erste Schaffensphase von Maximum Penalty umfasste eine beeindruckende Diskografie - ,Demo 89", die EP ,East Side Story" von 1995, die LP ,Independent" von 1996, die LP ,Super Life" von 1997 sowie eine Reihe von Titeln auf verschiedenen Compilations, darunter ,Where The Wild Things Are" und ,Satisfaction Guaranteed" von Blackout Records. Maximum Penalty tauchte 2009 mit der LP ,Life & Times" (Reaper Records) wieder auf und brachte ihren Sound neuen und alten Hörern näher. Der Einfluss, den Maximum Penalty auf die moderne Hardcore-Szene hatte, ist unbestreitbar. Turnstile nahm die Band in eine einflussreiche Playlist auf, und der Hardlore-Podcast erklärte Maximum Penalty zu einer der ,am meisten unterschätzten Hardcore-Bands". Im Jahr 2025 veröffentlichte die Hardcore-Band End It aus Baltimore ein Cover von ,Could You Love Me?" aus dem 1996er Album ,Independent", hauchte dem Titel neues Leben ein und veranlasste Fans, das Original zu entdecken. Zum 30-jährigen Jubiläum wird ,Independent" zum ersten Mal überhaupt auf Vinyl gepresst, und zwar über Flatspot Records. Gitarrist Joseph Affe bemerkt: ,Maximum Penaltys ,Independent` ist das einzige Album, das nie auf Vinyl erschienen ist, da Vinyl zu der Zeit, als es auf CD veröffentlicht wurde, nur eine Nebensache war. Während wir weiter spielten und neue Veröffentlichungen herausbrachten, war die Veröffentlichung von ,Independent` auf Vinyl etwas, das wir schon immer tun wollten, und nun sind wir endlich, 30 Jahre später, so weit. Die ,Independent`-Ära war eine großartige Zeit in der Geschichte von Maximum Penalty - es bedeutet uns sehr viel, zu sehen, dass ein neues Publikum die Platte zum ersten Mal entdeckt, das ist unglaublich!"

Hardcore-Neudenker Hammok aus Norwegen veröffentlichen ihr zweites Album, das erste bei Sargent House! Irgendwo mitten in Europa begann Sänger und Gitarrist Tobias Osland einen neuen Song zu schreiben, der die internationale Hardcore-Szene widerspiegelte, welche die Band alsbald sie die kleinen Alternative-Kreise Oslos verlassen hatten, mit offenen Armen empfing. Er und seine Bandkollegen - Schlagzeuger Ferdinand Aasheim und Bassist Ole Benjamin Thomassen - waren überwältigt, als sie auf neue Fans und Gleichgesinnte auf dem ganzen Kontinent trafen. Sie nahmen den Song "The Scene" mit auf die Tournee, ein Song von Menschen, die sich einst außen vor fühlten - und nun einen Ort in der Welt gefunden haben. Mit beeindruckenden Demos im Gepäck und der Absicht, ihren Sound zu verfeinern, experimentierten Hammok so lange, bis sie etwas gefunden hatten, das all ihre Impulse vereinte: explosiv, eingängig und detailreich. Sie erweiterten ihre Wurzeln aus Noise-Rock, Hardcore und Metal um ein breiteres, dynamischeres Terrain und verwebten industrielle Härte, Hip-Hop-Pulse, Synthie-Texturen und progressive Elemente zu klassischer Punk-Dringlichkeit. Indem sie die Gegensätze von Underground-Intensität und Pop-Sensibilität ausbalancierten, schufen sie so ein innovatives HC-Album. "When Does This Place Become Our Scene" ist eine Einladung - der Sound einer Band, die sich mit ganzem Herzen dieser neuen Musik widmet und dem Publikum verspricht, dass dieser Austausch, sich lohnt. Limitierte rote Vinyl-LP mit ausklappbarem Lyrics-Poster und DLC, CD im Digipak. FÜR FANS VON: METZ, Title Fight, Turnstile, Converge. GENRE/STIL: Hardcore, Alternative, Metal, Noise-Rock.

Rotting System aus Istanbul liefern genau das, was Hardcore immer sein sollte: roh, politisch und kompromisslos. Mit einer Mischung aus klassischem Hardcore-Punk und Crossover-Aggression richtet sich die Band gegen Ausbeutung, Ungleichheit und die Strukturen, die diese Zustände am Leben halten. Hier geht es nicht um Trends, Streamingzahlen oder Rockstar-Attitüden. Rotting System stehen für eine Szene, die von Menschen getragen wird, die Hardcore nicht nur hören, sondern leben. Laut, unbequem und ehrlich. 4 Track 7inch, black vinyl, 300 Stück ww mit Einleger

The Dwarves return to their punk roots with a fun, energetic record. Standout tracks include: Damned If I Do, We Are The Scene, Psychosis Tripping. Jenkem finds The Dwarves returning to the raw, confrontational energy that defined their early work, delivering a fast, irreverent blast of punk rock that blends melody, aggression, and their trademark shock humor. Packed with short, high-impact tracks like "We Are The Scene," "Damned If I Do," and "Psychosis Tripping," the album balances tight songwriting with the band's chaotic, anything-goes attitude, moving effortlessly between hardcore punk bursts and hook-driven rock moments. Formed in the mid-1980s and long led by founding member Blag Dahlia, The Dwarves have built a reputation as one of punk's most provocative and unpredictable acts. Emerging from the underground with releases like Blood Guts & Pussy, they became notorious for their explicit artwork, confrontational lyrics, and myth-making persona that blurred fact and fiction. Over decades, the band has shifted fluidly between garage rock, hardcore punk, and pop-inflected punk, while maintaining a consistent identity rooted in speed, satire, and rebellion. Their ever-changing lineup has included notable musicians such as HeWhoCannotBeNamed and members connected to acts like The Queers and Zeke, reinforcing their deep ties within the punk scene. With Jenkem, The Dwarves reaffirm their core strengths--brevity, intensity, and attitude--while delivering a record that feels both nostalgic and immediate. The songs hit quickly and leave an impression, driven by sharp riffs, pounding rhythms, and Dahlia's biting vocal delivery. As a continuation of their long-standing ethos, the album stands as a reminder of the band's enduring ability to provoke, entertain, and channel punk's most unfiltered spirit.

With “Louder Than Fate”, Jared James Nichols delivers his fourth studio album and easily his most powerful and fully realized statement to date. Raw, unapologetic, and deeply rooted in the lineage of blues-driven hard rock, the album captures an artist at the peak of his creative confidence, channeling grit, groove, and soul with relentless intensity. Produced and mixed by Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Stone Sour, Amon Amarth, Uriah Heep, Steel Panther etc.), “Louder Than Fate” balances muscle and melody, combining thunderous riffs, searing solos, and emotionally charged vocals with a modern, punchy production. The songs move effortlessly between hard-hitting rock anthems and more reflective, dynamic moments, showcasing Nichols’ ability to fuse classic influences with a contemporary edge. Tracks like “Bending or Breaking” and “Killing Time” expand the sonic palette with subtle keyboards and cinematic string arrangements, adding depth without ever sacrificing power. Since his breakout debut, Jared James Nichols has built a reputation as one of the most electrifying guitarists and performers of his generation. Known for his unmistakable tone, fearless playing style, and commanding stage presence, he has toured extensively across the US and Europe, sharing stages with some of the biggest names in rock and earning praise from fans and critics alike. Louder Than Fate is not just an album — it’s a declaration. A record that speaks to resilience, conviction, and the unstoppable force of an artist who plays every note as if it truly matters. Loud, honest, and deeply human, this is Jared James Nichols at his absolute best.

Doublemint green vinyl. Limited to 300 copies. Tel Aviv hardcore heavyweights Eternal Struggle return with their second full-length album "Wartime Love Affair", set for release via Demons Run Amok. Produced by longtime collaborator Brian "Mitts" Daniels (Madball, Skarhead), the new record unleashes a relentless hardcore and metal assault, packed with crushing beatdowns, massive riffs and nonstop aggression. Written and tracked in the midst of real-world conflict, every track is fueled by raw intensity and unfiltered emotion. "Wartime Love Affair" marks a bold new chapter for Eternal Struggle, refining their sound while pushing their ferocity to new heights.

Dub Shepherds continues their Jamaican excursions initiated with Echo Minott and the album "Mango Tree". Roe Summerz lends his voice and prose to a recut of "I Love Marijuana" from BAT Records, four drops, sharp and heavy. For Hardmix fans only!

Blood Sanctum Vinyl w/ Poster

Futurismo präsentiert das legendäre Debütalbum "Only Theatre Of Pain" (1982) der Gothic-Legenden Christian Death in neuen limitierten Deluxe-Formaten - remastert und erweitert um frühe Demos und rarem Material, samt Poster. "Only Theatre Of Pain" gilt als Meisterwerk und Ursprung des Deathrock - ein wegweisendes Epos von unheiliger Kraft und tiefschwarzer Emotionalität. Obwohl seine Wurzeln im Punk liegen – die Ursprünge der Christian Death-Originalbesetzung liegen in der Früh-1980er Hardcore-Explosion in Südkalifornien –, kann die Bedeutung dieses Werks für die nachfolgende Musiklandschaft nicht hoch genug eingeschätzt werden. Wie ein Adrenalinstoß ins Herz der Finsternis entspringt diese ungezügelte und geheimnisvolle Aufnahme bis heute jeder Kategorisierung. Mit dem visionären Rozz Williams (damals noch Teenager) sowie Punk-Legende Rikk Agnew (Adolescents), James McGearty und George Belanger präsentiert "Only Theatre Of Pain" eine musikalische Erkundung, geprägt von psychosexueller Lyrik und einem tiefen Glaubenskampf, aufgenommen innerhalb weniger Tage mit Produzentenlegende Thom Wilson. Klanglich und visuell seiner Zeit voraus, ist dieses Stück sakrilegischer US-Punk ein absolutes Muss für alle, die sich für Gothic begeistern, für Fans von The Misfits, Bauhaus und The Cramps.

Acclaimed producer, DJ, and dancefloor healer Octo Octa (Maya Bouldry-Morrison) announces her fourth full-length album, Sigils For Survival. Following 2013's Between Two Selves, 2017's Where Are We Going?, and 2019's Resonant Body, the new record marks a decade since Maya publicly came out as transgender in November 2015. ''As an autobiographical artist, I set out to write an album that would be a milestone for this past decade of joy and sorrow,'' Maya explains. ''Sigils For Survival is my attempt to encapsulate the intentions and techniques that I used to move through life into a spell.'' For each of the record's eight tracks, Maya drew a sigil. Each is a personal symbol intended to ''bind magic to the song and seal its intention.'' These drawings appear throughout the physical edition's design. Maya's sister, New York artist Hope Morrison, incorporated each sigil into her original paintings, which comprise the album's vivid artwork. Hope Morrison, whose imagery translates the sigils' energy into vivid form; the layout was designed by Jo?o Ervedosa. Created entirely on hardware instruments and later mixed in Logic, Sigils For Survival captures the tactile immediacy of live performance. Maya preserved the feel of MIDI-clock drift and off-grid recording, letting her machines interact in the rhythmic pocket, rather than confirming them to a click. Alongside her signature deep, ecstatic electronics, the album features hand-played dulcimer, hand-pan, and recorder. Her voice also returns, carrying spells of love, protection, and transformation. Across Sigils For Survival, Octo Octa channels the ecstatic house lineage into an intimate ritual space. The music speaks of immediacy, play, and communion -- of magic as method, love as survival, and sound as spellcraft. Sigils For Survival is both a document of ten years lived fully and an invocation for the next chapter -- a glowing testament to music's power to protect, transform, and set the spirit free.

Guidelines launches its 2026 schedule with a heavyweight two-tracker from Toby Ross, pairing two cuts built for very different corners of the dance.

On the A-side, “Can’t Do It” lands as a straight-up dancefloor heater rolling low-end pressure, clipped vocal stabs and a hook that locks in quickly and refuses to let go. Built with peak-time intent, it’s direct, physical and engineered to hit hard on proper systems.

Flip it over and “Interruption” dives headfirst into classic amen territory. Chopped, urgent and restless, the track drives forward on tight edits and raw break energy, balancing precision programming with that unmistakable rough-edge jungle feel.

Together the two tracks showcase Ross’ approach: future-focused jungle rooted in foundation sounds — modern production, classic DNA, and zero filler.

Baby T is a space away from her work as B.Traits in which Brianna Price can lean more into the junglist, drum ‘n’ bass and hardcore sounds which she loves so dearly. With BSHEE02, the second drop on Price’s own Banshee label, Baby T delivers a darkside masterclass of an EP. This record is a quartet of system blowers which doesn’t let up for a single second from start to finish.

Opener ‘Times Up’ is urgent from the off - the initial strains of this joint find sirens wailing in the monitors over a twitchy kick/drum/hats combo. From here on it’s distilled raver perfection, the drums taking us on a wild Wipeout-style ride as the subbiest of bass skulks at the bottom of the mix. Imagine a more technoid take on the classic breakbeat freerides of Skanna and you’re not far off the ‘Times Up’ sound.

A remix of ‘Times Up’ from man like Aloka leans with devilish glee into the murky underworld that lurks beneath Baby T’s original. Aloka’s version is extremely eerie in a manner which makes you think of the darkest corners of a DMZ party. When things really kick into gear, driven by an irresistible kick dembow, the effect is hypnotic - think the dubwise junglism of the UVB-76 cohort.

BSHEE02’s B-side kicks off with ‘Coercive Control’. This is a cut which delivers on its title in spades, putting the listener in a trance with an interplay of low-slung bass, whirligig synth tones and more of those perfectly executed broken beats. The acid starts to kick in around the minute mark, and it turns out to herald a total earworm of a lead melody.

There’s plenty of dimly-lit malevolence to BHSEE02 closer ‘Dense Dickwood’s grinding atmospherics and gurgling bass throbs. However, Baby T opting for a half-time drum break here gives the cut a vibe not dissimilar to the weightiest jams of classic Massive Attack - that is, until an absolutely remorseless switch-up occurs halfway through, delivering volley after volley of intense drum hits.

Baby T is a space away from her work as B.Traits in which Brianna Price can lean more into the junglist, drum ‘n’ bass and hardcore sounds which she loves so dearly. With BSHEE02, the second drop on Price’s own Banshee label, Baby T delivers a darkside masterclass of an EP. This record is a quartet of system blowers which doesn’t let up for a single second from start to finish.

Opener ‘Times Up’ is urgent from the off - the initial strains of this joint find sirens wailing in the monitors over a twitchy kick/drum/hats combo. From here on it’s distilled raver perfection, the drums taking us on a wild Wipeout-style ride as the subbiest of bass skulks at the bottom of the mix. Imagine a more technoid take on the classic breakbeat freerides of Skanna and you’re not far off the ‘Times Up’ sound.

A remix of ‘Times Up’ from man like Aloka leans with devilish glee into the murky underworld that lurks beneath Baby T’s original. Aloka’s version is extremely eerie in a manner which makes you think of the darkest corners of a DMZ party. When things really kick into gear, driven by an irresistible kick dembow, the effect is hypnotic - think the dubwise junglism of the UVB-76 cohort.

BSHEE02’s B-side kicks off with ‘Coercive Control’. This is a cut which delivers on its title in spades, putting the listener in a trance with an interplay of low-slung bass, whirligig synth tones and more of those perfectly executed broken beats. The acid starts to kick in around the minute mark, and it turns out to herald a total earworm of a lead melody.

There’s plenty of dimly-lit malevolence to BHSEE02 closer ‘Dense Dickwood’s grinding atmospherics and gurgling bass throbs. However, Baby T opting for a half-time drum break here gives the cut a vibe not dissimilar to the weightiest jams of classic Massive Attack - that is, until an absolutely remorseless switch-up occurs halfway through, delivering volley after volley of intense drum hits.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Definition of spin doctor: a spokesperson employed to give a favorable interpretation of events to the media, especially on behalf of a political party. Spin Doctors weren't part of a political party but spread the word about romance.

The band was formed in New York City, best known for their early 1990s hits "Two Princes" and "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong". Those 2 songs were hits all over the world, and are still big hits in the streaming era. Pocket Full of Kryptonite is the first studio album (and second release) by the Spin Doctors, and originally released in August 1991.

The album was a top 10 hit in many countries, including the UK, Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden. It was the band's bestselling album and was certified 5x Platinum in the US. Not to be confused with the 3 Doors Down song 'Kryptonite' from 2000, the Superman theme was all over the Spin Doctors' album, with the title, a song called "Jimmy Olsen's Blues" and the album cover showing a phone booth (referring to Clark Kent frequently ducking into a nearby phone booth to change into his Superman attire).

This pressing of Pocket Full of Kryptonite is a limited 35th anniversary edition of 4,000 individually numbered copies on green vinyl. The jacket has a deluxe leather-texture laminate finish.

Michigan Band EJ & the Echoes: Rediscovering a Soul Legacy

The story of EJ & the Echoes represents a remarkable chapter in Michigan's music history and the early American soul scene. Its origins date back to the late 1950s, when Everett J. "EJ" Gronda was already active as a young musician. While studying at Central Michigan University in the early 1960s, he met the talented vocalist Manuel "Manny" Holcolm. Together with other musicians, they formed vocal groups that soon performed throughout the state and even recorded near Detroit's legendary Motown studios.

In 1963, Gronda founded EJ & the Echoes, a band that quickly gained popularity at dances, clubs, and weddings across Michigan. With Manny Holcolm as lead singer, the group developed a distinctive harmony-driven sound, blending influences ranging from the Beatles to James Brown. The band served as a house band in Traverse City, opened for national acts, and performed regularly at well-known Detroit venues.

Between 1964 and 1967, EJ & the Echoes released several singles on the Diamond Jim Records label. Although major commercial success eluded them at the time, their recordings later found international recognition. Today, their songs remain staples of the British Northern Soul scene.

After the band dissolved, the members pursued different paths. EJ Gronda became a schoolteacher but remained devoted to music throughout his life. In 2006, the musicians reunited for an emotional jam session. EJ Gronda passed away in 2022, followed by Manuel Holcolm in 2024. Their musical legacy endures-on this vinyl release, dance floors, and in the memory of a remarkable era.

Our sincere thanks go to author and blues historian Fred Reif. He wrote the accompanying text and provided all the pictures of the band printed in the gatefold cover. Without him, this project would not have been possible.

1st Album from the Lisbon Portugal duo Jah version - featuring the amazing vocals of Zacky Man. This is future sounding fine contemporary roots flavoured dub from hard steppe beats to heavy roots one-drop styles - made by Jah Version but mixed by Vibronics in his Dub Cupboard Studio in the UK. Played by OBF, Iration Steppas and all the top Dub Soundsystems around the world.

,Ruin Everything" ist das fünfte Studioalbum der Stockholmer Psychedelic-Rock-Pioniere Les Big Byrd. Seit ihrer Gründung im Jahr 2011 hat das Quartett seine Mischung aus Space Rock, hypnotisierender Psychedelia und diszipliniertem Krautrock perfektioniert. Angeführt von Songwriter und Produzent Jocke Åhlund Byrd um die ganze Welt getourt und sich dabei eine begeisterte Fangemeinde aufgebaut, wobei sie abwechselnd zu Hause als eine der größten Rockbands Schwedens und im Ausland als Underground-Psych-Act auftraten. Nach dem experimentellen und stark instrumentalen ,Diamonds, Rhinestones and Hard Rain" (2024) kehren Les Big Byrd auf ,Ruin Everything" zu einem stärker songorientierten Ansatz zurück, der an ihren Klassiker ,Iran Iraq IKEA" aus dem Jahr 2018 erinnert. Da die abenteuerlichsten Tendenzen der Band zugunsten eines strafferen, fokussierteren Sounds zurückgenommen wurden - der von dem dystopischen Epos ,Big Flood" bis zum Vollgas-Space-Rock von ,Hökvind" reicht -, ist ,Ruin Everything" Les Big Byrd in ihrer bisher besten Form.

,Ruin Everything" ist das fünfte Studioalbum der Stockholmer Psychedelic-Rock-Pioniere Les Big Byrd. Seit ihrer Gründung im Jahr 2011 hat das Quartett seine Mischung aus Space Rock, hypnotisierender Psychedelia und diszipliniertem Krautrock perfektioniert. Angeführt von Songwriter und Produzent Jocke Åhlund Byrd um die ganze Welt getourt und sich dabei eine begeisterte Fangemeinde aufgebaut, wobei sie abwechselnd zu Hause als eine der größten Rockbands Schwedens und im Ausland als Underground-Psych-Act auftraten. Nach dem experimentellen und stark instrumentalen ,Diamonds, Rhinestones and Hard Rain" (2024) kehren Les Big Byrd auf ,Ruin Everything" zu einem stärker songorientierten Ansatz zurück, der an ihren Klassiker ,Iran Iraq IKEA" aus dem Jahr 2018 erinnert. Da die abenteuerlichsten Tendenzen der Band zugunsten eines strafferen, fokussierteren Sounds zurückgenommen wurden - der von dem dystopischen Epos ,Big Flood" bis zum Vollgas-Space-Rock von ,Hökvind" reicht -, ist ,Ruin Everything" Les Big Byrd in ihrer bisher besten Form.

Soul Jazz Records’ long out of print classic ‘Studio One Funk’ collection is being re-released in three new one-off limited-edition coloured pressing 18th anniversary format editions!
Firstly, a heavyweight special limited edition one-pressing only red 2xLP vinyl + download. Secondly, there is also a new special limited-edition one-off pressing edition red-pressed CD enclosed in jewel case and slipcase. And thirdly there is a very limited unique new one-off pressing red-cased cassette format (200 copies only)! 18 years on from its original release Studio One Funk remains one of our Studio One releases most in-demand titles and like all our earlier special coloured editions is sure to sell out fast!
Studio One Funk is made up of rare and unreleased Reggae Funk from the vaults of Studio One. Ever since the birth of Funk in America, the sound has been an ever-present ingredient in the melting pot of Studio One’s musical output.
The music on this release is a combination of originals, US covers and versions of existing Studio One cuts. Jackie Mittoo shows his appreciation for Booker T and The MGs, the studio group at Memphis’ famous Stax Records with ‘Hang Em High’, itself a cover of a film soundtrack by Dominic Frontiere. Incredibly this version has never before been released. Booker T’s super-funky ‘Melting Pot’ is also covered by the little-known Underground Vegetables.
Other versions include Isaac Hayes’ classic Blaxploitation soundtrack ‘Shaft’ again by Cedric Im Brooks track - another unreleased gem, straight from the tape master. Motown gets a look in with Alton’s stripped-down version of the Spinners classic ‘It’s A Shame’, written by Stevie Wonder and Syreeta.
James Brown is apparent in spirit with the JBs-inspired groove on the super rare cut “Now” by Lee Arab. Lloyd Williams similarly does a fine Kingston-style version of the hardest-working man in showbusiness on ‘Reggae Feet’.
Version-wise, we have ‘Idleberg’, Cedric Im Brooks tough instrumental cut on Horace Andy’s seminal ‘Skylarking’. The little-known Prince Moonie gives us a rare DJ cut of another Horace Andy classic, ‘See A Man’s Face’.
Pablove Black’s cut of Sidewalk Doctor (A/K/A Poco Tempo) is one of a handful of Studio One releases featuring Augustus Pablo’s trademark instrument, the melodica, played by Black himself.
Add to these original cuts from Studio One’s heavyweight session players including Leroy Sibbles, Jackie Mittoo, Leroy Sibbles, Eric Frater, Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace, Richard Ace, Vin Gordon and more and you have one of the finest selections of reggae and funk you will ever hear.







"This collection goes deep into the Brentford Road vaults and unearths a rake of previously unreleased gems alongside hard to find classics. Heavy and inspirational, totally unique and essentially timeless." Straight No Chaser
"An absolute treasure trove for the collector as well as being great for the ears and feet. Jackie Mittoo's 'Hang Em High' is worth the price of the album on its own." Echoes
"A superb collection that shows how much many Jamaican musicians were influenced by the heavy funk belting out of American studios from the early seventies onwards.” Touch
"The most satisfying listening experience so far in the Studio One series." The Wire
"Rare and unreleased grooves from Jamaica's house of excellence." Mojo

Actor, comedian, friend of the label, Aziz Ansari (of Parks and Rec fame) has visited Third Man a handful of times, even gracing us with a surprise live set back in 2013. For years we've been working hard to find something to release together and his second Comedy Central stand-up special, Dangerously Delicious, which was originally released in 2012, contains so many great moments (50 Cent's 1st grapefruit experience, anyone?), it just needs to be pressed into wax. So, here we've done it! Put the needle in the groove and let the good times roll, friends. Co-released with Comedy Central

BBE Music’s celebrated J Jazz compilation series reaches its fifth and final volume in early 2026, culminating in a track list that maintains the exceptionally high standard first set with volume one back in 2018. This final volume features a selection of tracks that is as diverse as it is deep, reflecting the rich and varied Japanese jazz scene that spanned from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, a golden era of innovation and creativity. J Jazz volume 5 sees compilers Tony Higgins and Mike Peden dig ever deeper into their respective record collections to reveal tracks that encompass myriad styles including white hot jazz funk fusion from Toshiyuki Honda (Eastern Legacy) and Mikio Masuda (Sonic Barrier), super rare ethnic jazz crossover by Christal Zone - their one-off 45 promo release from 1971, Rai Rai, a deconstructed and abstract jazz classic by Yasuhiro Kohno with his solo piano rendition of My Favourite Things, and Mile and Half’s skin-tearing, shredding freak-out from their mega rare private press album.

A track that is so relentless, it leaves the listener in need of oxygen and a Valium. These hand-picked selections sit alongside other specially chosen numbers that embrace hard-driving samba (Seiichi Nakumura’s Judy’s Samba), epic head-nodding soul jazz (Masaru Imada’s World Line), psychedelic private press fusion (Aoyama Gakuin 101’s Fervor), angular post-bop tear-ups (Akira Miyazawa’s Nijimasu), intense and insistent fusion (Motohiko Hino’s Olive Step), serene cinematic pianism (Hideo Ichikawa’s On the Trade Wind) and tripped-out hallucinogenic tribal funky jazz (Masahiko Sato’s Garandoh’s Africa to Africa). Most of the tracks on this collection are being reissued for the first time, many of them only available previously on extremely limited and mega-rare private press or independent releases. J Jazz volume 5 is a fitting end to a compilation series that helped create a new audience and appreciation of Japanese jazz Some of the albums the tracks are drawn from are featured in the large format book J Jazz: Modern and Free Jazz from Japan 1954-1988, by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, published by BBE Music in 2024. With almost 7000 words of extensive sleeve notes, J Jazz volume 5 comes in a triple 180g vinyl set inside a deluxe gatefold sleeve with obi strip, and comes with a 4-page insert, with photographs from the renowned Tokyo Jazz Joints project. It is also available as a double CD and digital download. Mastered at the Grammy-nominated Carvery Studio by Frank Merritt, this latest collection is a worthy successor to the preceding four volumes that set the bar so high. The J Jazz series is curated for BBE Music by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden.

PAUL WALKER: Paul Walker is the debut studio album by American post-hardcore band, Drug Church. It features 10 tracks, including "Thinking About Joining Drug Church", "Reading Youtube Comments", and "Clifton Country". SWELL: Drug Church, monsters of alt-rock, have weathered a year of dope shows and fan adoration since the release of their seminal punk masterpiece Paul Walker. Now, the chickens have come home to roost. The band has dedicated itself fully to a true ‘sophomore slump’ EP full of indulgent missteps and overreaching stabs at pop crossover. All that being told, they’re “the sickest band ever” has yielded real results. On Swell, Drug Church push their idiosyncratic blend of punk and alt to new heights of sick. Recorded with J. Robbins (every band, ever) in a big, professional studio, Swell delivers the biggest Drug Church sound to date. It’s pretty much the life-changer you assumed it would be. This new repress of the album includes remastered tracks. HIT YOUR HEAD: Drug Church is the logical limit of heavy alt. Like the Bee Girl from the Blind Melon video pitting hard for Helmet. Hit Your Head, recorded with Jay Maas, fully embraces the futureless aesthetic the band hinted at on previous records. This is worst-body-on-the-beach music. These are fired-from-your-window-tinting-job songs. An album for people on probation for crimes that aren't even cool. Big riffs and petty concerns.

PAUL WALKER: Paul Walker is the debut studio album by American post-hardcore band, Drug Church. It features 10 tracks, including "Thinking About Joining Drug Church", "Reading Youtube Comments", and "Clifton Country". SWELL: Drug Church, monsters of alt-rock, have weathered a year of dope shows and fan adoration since the release of their seminal punk masterpiece Paul Walker. Now, the chickens have come home to roost. The band has dedicated itself fully to a true ‘sophomore slump’ EP full of indulgent missteps and overreaching stabs at pop crossover. All that being told, they’re “the sickest band ever” has yielded real results. On Swell, Drug Church push their idiosyncratic blend of punk and alt to new heights of sick. Recorded with J. Robbins (every band, ever) in a big, professional studio, Swell delivers the biggest Drug Church sound to date. It’s pretty much the life-changer you assumed it would be. This new repress of the album includes remastered tracks. HIT YOUR HEAD: Drug Church is the logical limit of heavy alt. Like the Bee Girl from the Blind Melon video pitting hard for Helmet. Hit Your Head, recorded with Jay Maas, fully embraces the futureless aesthetic the band hinted at on previous records. This is worst-body-on-the-beach music. These are fired-from-your-window-tinting-job songs. An album for people on probation for crimes that aren't even cool. Big riffs and petty concerns.

PAUL WALKER: Paul Walker is the debut studio album by American post-hardcore band, Drug Church. It features 10 tracks, including "Thinking About Joining Drug Church", "Reading Youtube Comments", and "Clifton Country". SWELL: Drug Church, monsters of alt-rock, have weathered a year of dope shows and fan adoration since the release of their seminal punk masterpiece Paul Walker. Now, the chickens have come home to roost. The band has dedicated itself fully to a true ‘sophomore slump’ EP full of indulgent missteps and overreaching stabs at pop crossover. All that being told, they’re “the sickest band ever” has yielded real results. On Swell, Drug Church push their idiosyncratic blend of punk and alt to new heights of sick. Recorded with J. Robbins (every band, ever) in a big, professional studio, Swell delivers the biggest Drug Church sound to date. It’s pretty much the life-changer you assumed it would be. This new repress of the album includes remastered tracks. HIT YOUR HEAD: Drug Church is the logical limit of heavy alt. Like the Bee Girl from the Blind Melon video pitting hard for Helmet. Hit Your Head, recorded with Jay Maas, fully embraces the futureless aesthetic the band hinted at on previous records. This is worst-body-on-the-beach music. These are fired-from-your-window-tinting-job songs. An album for people on probation for crimes that aren't even cool. Big riffs and petty concerns.

Auf dem im Juni 1965 aufgenommenen Album “Components” vertiefte Vibrafonist Bobby Hutcherson seine
Zusammenarbeit mit Schlagzeuger Joe Chambers, die er wenige Monate zuvor auf “Dialogue” begonnen
hatte. Zu hören sind die beiden hier mit einem erstklassigen Sextett, das mit Trompeter Freddie Hubbard
und Pianist Herbie Hancock zwei weitere Blue-Note-Stars jener Zeit umfasst. “‘Components’ ist wohl das
Album, das Bobby Hutchersons frühe musikalische Persönlichkeit am besten widerspiegelt”, schrieb Steve
Huey bei AllMusic und gab dem Album die Höchstwertung von fünf Sternen. “Es ist passenderweise in
zwei sehr unterschiedliche Hälften unterteilt. Die erste enthält vier Eigenkompositionen von Hutcherson im
melodischen, aber dennoch anspruchsvollen Hard-Bop-Stil, während die zweite Hälfte vier frei interpretierte
Avantgarde-Stücke von Chambers bietet.”

Am 29. Juli 1962 wehte ein kräftiger Wind durch das Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, Kalifornien, als
Tenorsaxofonist Curtis Amy mit einem Sextett aus West-Coast-Musikern in dem legendären Jazzclub auftrat, um dort das Live-Album “Tippin’ On Through“ für Pacific Jazz aufzunehmen. Stilistisch bewegt sich
Curtis Amy hier in drei Eigenkompositionen durch funkigen Hard Bop und Soul-Jazz, interpretiert aber
auch einen Jazzklassiker der Gershwin-Brüder sowie Stücke von Benny Golson und Dave Brubeck. Neben
dem Tenorsaxofonisten glänzte bei dem Konzert vor allem der junge Vibrafonist Roy Ayers, für den dies
eine seiner ersten Aufnahmen war

HVS is stoked to have Wetman back for the second time on the label! This is part one of a two part series showcasing original tunes from Wetman and remixes of those tunes, so stay locked for the next one soon! Dan had initially sent me two original tracks of his along with the two remixes of “Inside” from Etch & Meridian. We both agreed it would be cool to spread out the tracks into a series since there were already two remixes of the same tune, so Laramie and I whipped up a third mix and here we are!

As most of you know, Dan and I both started Vivid way back in 2017 so it's really really awesome to still be releasing tunes from him almost 10 years later! Dan has since gone back down to Cali while I'm stuck up here in Seattle, but we still collaborate as often as we can. His original mix is so damn creative and probably the wildest mix of the bunch. Excellently sourced samples per usual from him, most of which I didn't know, but Meridian is actually the one that tipped me on the Harold Budd sample!

I first heard BC badman Meridian's EP on Disrupt Records when it came out a couple years back, and was floored with his tunes! I was really excited to have a mix from him for this. And his mix really delivers IMO. With some seriously precision cuts/choppage and a really excellent balance of light and dark in the mix. It's very cool having a (sort of) local producer on the label as well!

Etch, out of London needs no intro really, with a ton of quality releases under his belt spanning all sorts of dance genres, it's really an honor having him on the label! Being a fellow FL user and also a gear fanatic make for some fun chats with Etch as well. His mix is the most mellow of the bunch but it still slaps hard everytime.

Laramie's mix is super duper techy, which is a bit different to his usual niceness style! But he wanted to switch it up for this one. I was happy to jump in the studio and record a vocal for the track. We think this mix came together nicely!

Stay locked for Part 2 and many releases in 2026!

In 1979, the Soviet label Melodiya released a record that immediately stood apart from most Soviet jazz of its time and perhaps for that very reason never became widely known. Oriental Suite by Oleg Gotskosik Quintet is a rare example of jazz, Eastern musical tradition, and compositional thinking coming together not as an exotic stylization but as a fully formed artistic statement.

This is not “Oriental colour” used as decoration, nor folklore treated as an ornament. Oriental Suite grows from within another musical tradition, with its monody, modal logic, slow unfolding of form, and focus on inner states rather than outward effect. The music is calm and concentrated. It does not try to impress, but gradually draws the listener into its own space.
Oleg Gotskozik was born in Tashkent in 1951, a city where Eastern music was part of everyday life rather than something distant or exotic. That may explain why his engagement with traditional material sounds so natural. He does not quote or stylize; he thinks in the same musical categories. By temperament, he was closer to a composer than to a jazz musician in the conventional sense. For him, jazz was not a style but a way of working with form and improvisation.There is no standard “theme and solos” logic in Oriental Suite. Improvisation is woven into the fabric of the music itself and unfolds in the same way as in oral traditions, gradually, with rising tension and a clear sense of arrival. Individual sections refer to traditional Uzbek genres such as lullabies, lyrical songs, and funeral laments, but these are not genre sketches. They are states of being. The music unfolds slowly, avoiding familiar harmonic drama and relying instead on modal scales and subtle internal movement.

A special role is played by trumpeter Yuri Parfyonov. His approach, with delayed vibrato, micro-glissandi, and melismatic phrasing, sounded unexpected at the end of the 1970s and still feels remarkably fresh today. This is not expressive jazz virtuosity but a focused, almost meditative voice, where improvisation becomes a form of inner speech.
It is also important to note that the original recording was not without technical flaws. Like many Soviet jazz releases of the time, Oriental Suite was captured under far from ideal conditions, and the master contained audible imperfections that were never part of the music itself. For this edition, the restoration was approached with great care and respect, working through the recording moment by moment to remove unwanted artifacts while preserving the character and atmosphere of the original. The aim was simple: to make sure nothing stands in the way of fully experiencing the music.

In the early 1980s, Oleg Gotskozik left the Soviet Union, and after that his name virtually disappeared from Soviet music journalism and literature. There were no official bans or public statements. He was simply no longer mentioned. Oriental Suite continued to exist on its own, without an author and without context. The record never entered the canon, received no continuation, and was never officially reissued. It seemed to fall out of time.
The original vinyl pressing was released in a run of around 32,000 copies, but most of them remained within the republic and never reached wide circulation. Today, original copies are hard to find and have long become objects of interest for collectors. There have been no official reissues, only attempts that never went beyond test pressings.
Today, Oriental Suite sounds surprisingly contemporary. It is music that can be described as deep ethno-jazz and even, in a certain sense, spiritual jazz. There is no exoticism here, no decorative borrowing, only a complete immersion in another musical way of thinking. It does not require explanations and does not need to be justified by its time.
This is not a forgotten curiosity revived for collectors’ sake. It is music that simply waited for the moment when it could be heard without ideological filters or genre expectations. Now it is returning quietly, without noise or hype, but with the clear sense that this is not an artifact of an era, but a living and genuinely rare artistic statement.

ISKRA is the debut album by Polish multi-instrumentalist and composer Olga Anna Markowska. Starting at “Dawn” and ending at “Dusk”, it is a journey of melancholic depth and true beauty filled with warm memories from what was & what could be.

Using zither, cello, electronics and occasional wordless voice, Olga weaves together something so affecting and under the skin beautiful that it is hard to shake, bringing to mind classics from artists like Jacaszek and William Basinski, or the films of Kieslowski. However, there’s a personal touch in her playing and compositions that stands out. Olga explains: “the cello pieces, in particular, were born from a desire to reconnect with the instrument I’ve known intimately since childhood. However, I had to step away from it for two years to gain perspective and find a fresh approach when I returned.” She continues : “ISKRA is an album about "ignition" — a gradual shift in how I think about music and a search for new values. It also marks the closing of a chapter, blending archival recordings with the dawn of new ideas.”

The album feels deeply personal from the first note, and bridges the difficult point between classical and ambient music in a truly natural way, leaving any typical tropes far off, instead demanding your full attention. Olga uses plenty of loops throughout, which together with the cello and zither builds a transcendent atmosphere. Standouts contain amongst others the stunning “Train Ride Home” - a 7 minute piece with zither as main focal point; “Fever Dream” - a plunge into warm static noise and deep plucks, as well as the beautiful “Helix”, which sounds like a washed out dream with its minimal tape loops and ambient vocal washes. Overall the album connects very well with Olga’s subjects of identity, memory of the places and human relations with nature. There is a deep humanity burrowed within these 40 minutes of music which feels immensely appropriate in these contemporary times.

ISKRA was recorded in different times and places from 2017 to 2022 and lands with perfection on Miasmah - connecting the dots from the early years while reaching into the stars.

BEAR's sound is a calculated collision of technical precision and unfiltered aggression _ a modern strain of European metal that balances math-inflected complexity with visceral, live-wire intensity. At the core of their identity a combination of brains and brute force. With Anhedonia, Belgian heavyweights BEAR deliver five songs of pure adrenaline and unfiltered heaviness that capture a band confronting the strange emotional vacuum that can follow trauma. Anhedonia is both a battle cry and a confession; a visceral document of resilience carved from years marked by illness, loss, uncertainty, and hard-won perseverance. Musically, Anhedonia represents a sharpened evolution of BEAR's already formidable sound. Known for their intricate rhythms, punishing riffs, and explosive intensity, the band made a conscious decision this time to strip away excess and focus on the core of each song. There is no wasted movement on this EP. Every riff lands with purpose. Every rhythmic shift feels earned. The band trimmed the fat without sacrificing identity, creating space for dynamics and melody to cut deeper than ever before. "The songs are somewhat stripped back, allowing more space for Maarten's vocals to really shine this time around. I feel like we really hit a great balance of maintaining our signature complex sound while also allowing for more experimentation and melody." (James Falck) Anhedonia acknowledges numbness without glorifying it. It confronts pain without being consumed by it. And in doing so, it transforms heaviness into something connective. BEAR have always been a band driven by conviction, and here they stand at their most authentic, vulnerable and ferocious. Together, BEAR create music that feels alive _ tense, volatile, and emotionally charged _ where technicality enhances impact, and heaviness carries genuine vulnerability beneath its surface. FOR FANS OF The Dillinger Escape Plan * Every Time I Die * Botch * Converge * Norma Jean * Coalesce * Herod

BEAR's sound is a calculated collision of technical precision and unfiltered aggression _ a modern strain of European metal that balances math-inflected complexity with visceral, live-wire intensity. At the core of their identity a combination of brains and brute force. With Anhedonia, Belgian heavyweights BEAR deliver five songs of pure adrenaline and unfiltered heaviness that capture a band confronting the strange emotional vacuum that can follow trauma. Anhedonia is both a battle cry and a confession; a visceral document of resilience carved from years marked by illness, loss, uncertainty, and hard-won perseverance. Musically, Anhedonia represents a sharpened evolution of BEAR's already formidable sound. Known for their intricate rhythms, punishing riffs, and explosive intensity, the band made a conscious decision this time to strip away excess and focus on the core of each song. There is no wasted movement on this EP. Every riff lands with purpose. Every rhythmic shift feels earned. The band trimmed the fat without sacrificing identity, creating space for dynamics and melody to cut deeper than ever before. "The songs are somewhat stripped back, allowing more space for Maarten's vocals to really shine this time around. I feel like we really hit a great balance of maintaining our signature complex sound while also allowing for more experimentation and melody." (James Falck) Anhedonia acknowledges numbness without glorifying it. It confronts pain without being consumed by it. And in doing so, it transforms heaviness into something connective. BEAR have always been a band driven by conviction, and here they stand at their most authentic, vulnerable and ferocious. Together, BEAR create music that feels alive _ tense, volatile, and emotionally charged _ where technicality enhances impact, and heaviness carries genuine vulnerability beneath its surface. FOR FANS OF The Dillinger Escape Plan * Every Time I Die * Botch * Converge * Norma Jean * Coalesce * Herod

Mr. YT returns!

The cult deep house alias of Yuji Takenouchi was last seen on Brand New Day in 2017, which compiled a series of soft scenes and deepest soulful house for the ambient techno predator R&S and its Apollo, Generations and Global Cuts sub-labels across the mid-to-late 90s. Quietly and confidently some of the most beautiful house music ever made.

So it's a thrill to announce the Universo EP today on Short Span, and to say that he’s still making incredible new dance music in his studio. This is the first Mr. YT record of brand new material in twenty eight years.

The lushness springs forth as delightfully as ever. The inspirations of Detroit chords floating and interacting with a certain kind of Japanese plasticity and futurism. Crystal clear blue skies, sweet perfume and space race optimism, touched with a gentle wistfulness. The four tracks are each as beautiful and intricately deep musically as they are colourful and buoyed by energy. Ready to delight you.

Universo has some new purpose and drive up front, designed and deployed as his most propulsive dance music as Mr. YT. The tempo is taken up, and tracks frequently break out into virtuosic melody that dances across the pieces. Yuji’s talent for composition that hits as hard as it effortlessly glides hasn’t lost its edge in the quarter century plus break. The kick of “Acuario” and “Escorpio” are finely balanced with the influences of jazz and something a little more padded and cosmic. You could mix these into something by Los Hermanos or Ian O’Brien.

The EP bubbles down to a more yearning, sunsetting ambient house on the B side. The instantly recognisable language of classic Mr. YT, a warm and tender place.

Mr. YT has been absent a while, but Yuji’s busy. He’s established a long career as a musician and sound designer within the Japanese videogaming industry, having his hand in games including FromSoftware’s Dark Souls series surely adds something widescreen and sharply emotionally focused to the direction of his dance music. His Missing Project alias also got some shine from the stellar Music From Memory Virtual Dreams II compilation in 2024, which once again pinned down his enduring importance within the ambient techno movement of Japan. He’s also regularly working with Tokyo’s FORM@ Records and regularly self-publishing interesting work and studio versions. And his Missingsoul alias is still some of the most beautiful deep jazz-house committed to wax on Ron Trent’s Future Vision label. Check it all out!

Fuse leans further into its proposed aesthetic of biting club tracks with a brand new release by Cirkle. ‘Infinity Drift’ balances powerful sound system sound design with lush ambiance, creating standout moments on a dancefloor with a taste of nostalgia. These tracks explore the richness in themes that techno can have when made by someone who’s spent years meticulously crafting it. ‘Skyland’ asserts itself first with impressive pace. Swift chord stabs open and close to create waves of excitement and craze in the track while percussion shuffles along to add impact; Cirkle is an artist of all rooms and dimensions. Shrill sound design cuts through the stereo field creating a wormhole in the middle of rhythmic determination. Tension balance and anticipation are his specialty and every transition whips his dispersed elements into singularity in the EP, specifically the title track. A truly musical piece that embraces the crowd with vintage warmth, ‘Infinity Drift’ tones down the dissonance in exchange for something closer to astral exploration. These larger than life themes are never lost on dancers and serve to unify the dancefloor into an organism instead of pushing sound system violence. This is a theme that is omnipresent in Cirkle’s music and carried through into ‘Stimulus’. Here, the Greek producer dips into the hypnotic bordering on psychotic, stretching arpeggios and delays across drum transitions and time. The dimension of ‘Stimulus’ matches the preceding tracks with ease, but stands out in its effect, rolling a powerful synth through reliably tuned percussion. For the final track, ‘Impulse’ sees Cirkle prioritizing the importance of drums. Pressing hard on the drive of the kick, rides and filtered claps squeeze their way out of the low end to create an infectious groove. Stabs of ethereal pads envelope the rest of the EP, leaving space for the rest to breathe. Bumping along the way, Cirkle lands the EP with class, cementing himself further as an artist whose knowledge of the dancefloor creates a singular experience.