Suche:hús

Dr. Mateo, Blixx and LaRoxx continue to surprise and to release new hit singles. 6 years after the first LP, we finally managed to compile material for the second album. Chasing Ghosts, as this is its title, is also the title of the penultimate single that became a huge hit on streaming platforms. The album also includes such gems as VIVA LA VICTORIA, AT THE DISCO and STOCKHOLM IS CALLING.

Free, Dancing . . . is the first release by a new trio with percussionist and producer Carlos Niño, luminary multi-instrumentalist Idris Ackamoor (of The Pyramids) and wizard guitarist, producer Nate Mercereau. They have been playing concerts together in California since June 2022, sharing a unique vibrant sound, findings and energetics... Including download code for the full album.

Artwork by Nep Sidhu.

hurry up , and don't sleep, this music killed all dance floors ! give this record to your mother she will dance with you ! limited edition , sorry <3

Five trombonists and a three-member rhythm section: that sort of unique musical synergy is what Nabou Claerhout brings to life with her own Trombone Ensemble. For years, such a project had been one of the dream projects on her bucket list, and thanks to Antwerp based cultural actor Rataplan, she already saw the creation become a reality in spring 2022. In the summer of that year, the eight-piece ensemble opened both Gent Jazz and Jazz Middelheim.

In January 2023, Nabou was artist in residence at the Brussels Jazz Festival in Flagey, where she presented the Trombone Ensemble as one of three carte blanche projects. In a sold-out Studio 4, American trombone legend Robin Eubanks joined the line-up as a special guest, having previously also contributed during the studio recordings of the young collective during. The band's self-titled debut album will be released on November 3rd 2023 via W.E.R.F. Records.

Nabou composed the entire repertoire for this Ensemble herself, and did so with a fully open vision. While writing the music, she explored the trombone's wide possibilities: "The aim is to both indulge you with warm, soft, carrying parts and then afterwards discover the trombone's spicy and cordial character." That rhythmic playfulness, which we hear more often in Nabou's compositions with her acclaimed quartet N?BOU, also seeps subtly into this band's sound.
Despite the 'unusual' line-up of five diverse jazz trombonists, each with a different background, you still get to hear a very homogeneous sound, which is full of playfulness and small details. "I tried to make room and focus for each individual. And of course there is also a starring role for the rhythm section with guitar, double bass and drums."

When Nabou started looking for the dream fellow jazz musicians for this project, she ended up with artists from her own country, Belgium, but also from far beyond the country's borders: The Netherlands, the UK and Germany. "In selecting the trombonists, I looked for specific timbres, but also for personality. It is important that there is a good balance in playing together, but also that each musician is strong enough on his or her own for the solo parts."
Wanting to push boundaries in her approach to both compositions and the trombone as an instrument, the real crème de la crème of the newest generation proved indispensable. "I selected a handful of European trombonists with whom I may or may not have already played, but who, above all, inspire me very deeply. They are all young people who have a lot to offer and already have significant projects to their name in their own region or country."

ASEC reveals the 'Group Dynamics' record, two hypnotic techno tracks and remixes from Inland and Kaiser.

"'Group Dynamics' is inspired by this kind of captivating energy you feel in a crowd--think sports fans, a packed dance floor, a mass of humans--people aren't themselves in crowds. I was interested in capturing that invisible social group dynamic that makes many people move as one." - ASEC

On the A-side of ASEC's 'Group Dynamics' EP, dropping via his eponymous imprint this February and following up a series of releases supported by the likes of Rodhad and Tommy Four Seven, as well as output on BPitch and MORD. The title track enters the fray with a mystifying energy, percussion clicking and shifting while cavernous synth hits echo across its evolving soundscape. 'Scala Naturae' then continues with rolling drums shot through with bleeps and squelch, the steady beat of weighty kicks footing its looming psychedelic sequences.

Side B invites Counterchange Recordings founder Inland and KSR boss Kaiser to remix the original tracks. First up, Ostgut Ton, Figure, and Nonplus+'s Inland remixes 'Group Dynamics' by adding scratchy textures and the thrum of long-forgotten machines before Kaiser reimagines 'Scala Naturae'. The Key Vinyl and Soma artist turns the track into a prime-time, tripped-out dancefloor cut.

Lastly, Inland provides a dub techno version of his contribution as a digital bonus, with ASEC dropping the excellent 'Enough Is Enough' on online platforms. In this track, typewriter-like hats skitter over imposing drums while warped melodics twist and turn on top, closing out yet another mind-melting techno offering from the Berlin producer.

After over a decade as a digital-only album, Larry Manteca's Zombie Mandingo gets its first vinyl release, making a fresh comeback in a completely renewed version.

Like Manteca's previous full-length releases, this album too is conceived as a soundtrack to a non-existent exploitation film, drawing inspiration from the classic Italian B-movies of the 1970s. This time, cinematic references encompass both the zombies found in Lucio Fulci's horrors and the cannibalistic adventures directed by Umberto Lenzi, creating a strange mash-up between Jacopetti's Mondo Cane and Deodato's Cannibal Holocaust.

The setting is an unspecified island in the Atlantic Ocean, nestled halfway between equatorial Africa and the Caribbean. A handful of Western tourists, having miraculously survived a plane crash, collide with the age-old rituals of an indigenous tribe who perform human sacrifices to appease their local god—the Zombie Mandingo of the title—a monstrous creature with superhuman strength, half Haitian zombie, half African cannibal.

This fusion of genres and cultures is reflected in the music. Manteca creates horror-tinged exotica that evokes and re-imagines the soundscapes of distant lands and dreamlands, from Africa to South America, to the mysterious islands in the Bermuda Triangle. He boldly and brilliantly combines Les Baxter with Fela Kuti, Joe Zawinul with Piero Umiliani, Janko Nilovic with KPM libraries, sprinkling the mixture profusely with psychedelia, Afro-groove, and Italian soundtrack vibes.

The album's nine tracks, recorded between 2013-2019, were meticulously remixed and remastered in 2023. This process made it possible to add new solo instruments, including the Fender Rhodes on the title track. The result is a captivating, kaleidoscopic journey taking us into the sonic depths of the tropical jungle to unveil its dark secrets and surrender to the primary emotions behind every B-movie: action, adventure, erotic desire, and fear.

The album is embellished with a 650-gram hardcover sleeve featuring breathtaking artwork by Matteo Fumagalli.









i 09: Zombie Mandingo (Trailer Music) Remastered

California's James Bernard is a much-loved regular on this label as well as being a veteran of the wider ambient scene who has been hard at it for more than three decades. His latest outing on Past Inside The Present with Anthene (aka Brad Deschamps of Toronto) is Soft Octaves, an album that finds them crafting a series of sounds using electric six-string bass.

It has a huge range from the deepest depths to the wispiest of highs and each of the tracks here was recorded in one single take. The results are spellbinding indeed and the range of the bass's sonic ability is astonishing as it sounds at times like a cello, at others woodwind and is always intriguing.

Black Vinyl

New tape from Gabber Eleganza's Never Sleep imprint.
This time its a live recording of Drum & Bass legend / Critical Sound boss Kasra at Fabric with MC's GQ and Mantmast.

The tape is in honour of Shaun Roberts, the sadly departed Fabric booker who was a pivotal figure in the UK's electronic scene. All proceeds go to Bowel Cancer UK

"Fabric played a huge role in shaping me as a music fan and years later became the London home for me and my label. This wouldn’t have happened without the help and support of Shaun Roberts, who left us far to soon in Dec of 2022 after an 18 month battle with colon cancer.

When the Never Sleep crew asked me to contribute to their mix series I knew id like to honour Shaun and help raise some money for Bowel Cancer UK.

Without Shaun and people like him taking chances on people like me the music landscape would look very different.

This is mix is taken from the Critical Sound 15th birthday event in 2017.

Meis heeft geleefd, en daar deelt zij met haar debuutalbum het eerste echte deel van. Na het uitbrengen van haar EP 'Een' werd het soloproject van Aysha de Groot omschreven als 'betoverend, met kleine liedjes over grote onderwerpen.'

In het nieuwe hyper-persoonlijke 'Zwart/Wit' zoekt ze daarin nog verder de grenzen op. 'Hoe oncomfortabel en toch troostend kan ik deze plaat maken?' aldus de Groot. Het kenmerkende, warme, intieme, maar toch schurende geluid waar Meis zichzelf mee op de kaart heeft gezet, is nu nóg directer komt nóg dichterbij en klinkt nóg rauwer.

In 'Zwart/Wit', doet de Groot een boekje open over een periode van ziekte, trauma, herstel, kracht en de zoektocht naar zelfliefde. Het conceptuele album vertelt één verhaal. Geopereerd worden, een totale maagresectie, uit voorzorg. Niet jong ziek willen worden zoals haar moeder en oma voor haar, maar wel moeten leren leven zonder maag. De twee weken die Meis in het ziekenhuis heeft moeten doorbrengen waren zwaar en traumatisch. Om de tijd door te komen, heeft zij een dagboek aan teksten geschreven, die later uitgewerkt zijn tot dit album. Ze pakt 3 periodes: Het toeleven naar de operatie, de periode in het ziekenhuis zelf en het herstel daarna. 'Zwart/Wit' bestaat uit 11 tracks, deels licht, positief en hoopvol, deels donker, zwaar en een stuk harder. Zowel tekstueel als productioneel speelt Meis met het zwart en het wit. Samen met producer en muzikant Nicky Hustinx dook zij in het afgelegen Den Dolder de studio in, om de songs uit te bouwen. Geïnspireerd door de directheid van Phoebe Bridgers, de intieme vocalen van Dodie, het rauwe geluid van Big Thief en de donkere en minimalistische producties van James Blake, heeft Meis de ideale manier gevonden om haar verhaal te vertellen, volledig in haar eigen stijl. Het is geen popmuziek, maar toch is haar muziek herkenbaar, maar weet je niet precies met wie ze te vergelijken valt.

Kicking off our new Toolroom Trax vinyl series which celebrates the best releases from Toolroom’s sister label is Italian super-duo Twolate with the incredible new single 'Baila'. A straight-up 4 to the floor club shaker, with powerful hard-hitting drums, deep punchy afro vocals with carnival whistles and percussion hits that will turn the dancefloor into a fiesta. Two dance heavyweights collide on our next offering; best-selling house artist CASSIMM and Chicago house royalty Gene Farris for their latest collaboration 'Party People'. With numerous #1 singles and remixes on Beatport and Traxsource, CASSIMM returns to Trax with his notorious sound of feel-good, high-energy house music, team that with Gene Farris as he effortlessly delivers another irresistible vocal hook. 'This is for my people, my party people'. James Haskell kicks things off on the b-side with 'Check It Out'. With numerous releases on D4 D4NCE, LoveJuice and of course Toolroom, James Haskell is fast gaining support from the scenes top tastemakers including Bob Sinclar, Leftwing : Kody, David Guetta, Tita Lau and Dombresky to name a few. Gracing club hotspots around the world, James Haskell is set to top the charts with his Tech House and Big Room sound. Closing out the Sampler is Toolroom Trax A&R and Music Curator Danny Rhys with his percussive tech house weapon 'Sibali'. Following on from his 2021 Traxsource number #1 single 'Damn Good', in collaboration with house vocalist legend Mr. V. With releases on respectable labels such as Farris Wheel Recordings, Flashmob, HouseU and There Was Jack, Danny Rhys boasts high, feel-good energy, bumpy basslines, rolling percussion and infectious vocals that has since gained respect from AAA talents such as Gorgon City, TCTS, Kryder and of course Mark Knight.

DJ Support from Danny Howard, Annie Mac, Mistajam, Pete Tong, Charlie Hedges, Kraak & Smaak, Maxinne, Todd Terry, Alex Preston, Full Intention, GW Harrison, DJ Rae, Rudimental, Alaia & Gallo, Illyus & Barrientos, Johan S, David Penn, Sam Divine, Riva Starr, Claptone, Nice7, Dario D’Attis, Mousse T, S-Man, Huxley, KC Lights, Friend Within, Dombresky, Gorgon City, Chris Lake, Format:B, Pirupa, TCTS, Alan Fitzpatrick, Low Steppa, Mat.Joe, Raumakustik, Eskuche

Guava is the moniker for Bradley Hutchings, a British producer, composer, multi-instrument performer and DJ based in Berlin. Following up on a string of celebrated club-centric releases, Guava is now set to unveil his first solo album “Out Of Nowhere” in October 2023.

This confident and carefully crafted debut stands as the culmination of a colourful journey kickstarted age 17 years old. From early days in cover bands to European tours as a session musician supporting Men I Trust, Band of Horses or Nathaniel Rateliff, Bradley went on to perform on stage at the legendary Hammersmith Apollo, Abbey Road’s Studio 2 and BBC Maida Vale, as well as in many prestigious festivals such as Green Man, Latitude and more.

In parallel, and while still collaborating with songwriters, Bradley embraced electronic and dance music, finding in those modern and cutting-edge sounds a form of escape-ism as well as a sense of community that fed his creative practice in a whole new way. While refining his sound and enriching his production skills, Guava became a regular behind the DJ decks in parties in both London and Berlin and performed in Corsica Studios, :// about blank or Berlin’s hottest ambient café kwia.

The last few years, have seen him release several well received club records on revered underground labels such as Martyn’s 3024 imprint, Bradley Zero’s Rhythm Section and Control Freak Recordings amongst others.

The time has now come for Guava to synthesize years of teachings and crafting in both live performances and electronic production, all brought together in a deeply personal debut, released through his brand new imprint Guava Noise, a home for his own musical explorations. Enriched with several collaborations and informed by his experiences as a songwriter, this confident and explorative debut sees Bradley Hutchings embrace new directions, gracefully blending the best in UK underground club sounds with an electronica feel.

Wade "Jimmy" Dyce was an original member of Cultural Roots. He was a vocalist and played a key role in shaping the sound of the group. Cultural Roots emerged as a four-part harmony group for producer Donovan Germain in the late 1970s, releasing « Revolutionary Sounds » and « Mr Bossman » which counts among ‘Jah Shaka's favourite tunes’. Then they released « Hell A Go Pop », one of the Greensleeves label’s lesser-known classics.

In the early 80's, Wade Dyce produced alone three songs at Chris Stanley's famous Music Mountain studio. Wade Dayce surrounds himself with the best musicians of the time, namely the Revolutionaries, but does not remember the exact formation apart from Sly Dunbar on drums and Bongo Herman on percussion. « Humble », « Money Mare » and « Hide & Seek » are three forgotten songs that can be described as killer roots from the middle of the 80s and which you can (re)discover again through this reissue on the original Moving On label. For this release, Jamwax worked with Parade Studio for this original and unique Disco 45 cover graphic creation.

Today, Wade, now sixty-seven years old, is living in Salem, Massachusetts, where he graduated in 2010 as a mental-health specialist. Long live to the Cultural Roots !

Lucas Rodenbush aka E.B.E. is one of the most renowned producers in the electronic scene from the late 90's / early 2000's years.
"Neural Response EP", originally out in 2000, now finally gets its first official repress after 23 years !

Like a phoenix from the ashes, or Ukrainian culture after centuries of demolition, the Kyiv based label Noneside Records is experiencing its revival and rebirth. After all, «Nothing will stop an idea whose time has come» - these words of chief Stepan Bandera make it clear to everyone: if you really burn with sincere emotion for your dream - no difficulties will stop you on the way to its realization.



Five unique tracks from Slava Los, Yevhenii Loi, Lostlojic, Luschn and aqua. - is a tech house with elements of trance with soul and passion from musicians who write music despite the war. Visualization of the whole action on the record is the picture «The hug» by the Lviv artist Oles Derega.



Slava Los makes his debut on vinyl with the beautiful track «Snus» - old school trance in the best traditions. The author now defends the borders in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, so he decided to fulfill his old dream about the vinyl. Yevgeny Loi is also currently in the military, but this did not prevent him from making a new version of «Bounce» - a trance for a slow, erotic dance mood. Lostlojic, who is also the art director of the project, recalls the important message of «Send Me F16» in the uncompromising track of the same name, or rather in its VIP version created especially for the release.



Known to vinyl collectors for releases on Deeptrax and Infinite Pleasure. Luschn, a Kyiv legend and mega productive musician, known to tech house maniacs for his releases on Vector.Kyiv and Noneside, invites you to have fun and crazy dances with friends to his rehearsed «Ostinato Transdanz». Newbie aqua. has a unique recognizable style, where the rhythm is constantly changing in each track, nostalgic for the favorite place of childhood - near the Hydroelectric Station in Zaporizhzhia, crazy beats and steppe motifs in the track «H.E.S.».

Repress!

Newcomer Jac Solaire lands from outer space with a huge double-A side release, unashamedly leaning full tilt into the golden era of late 90’s French House. “Volaris” leads the way bringing huge energy and uplifting vocals whilst the more laidback “Into The Night” provides us with a beautiful Stardust-esque excursion into pure bliss!

Rising star Alex Virgo joins the party with a heavy remix on “Volaris” which twists and turns with hypnotic loops and grooves.

This ones hot ..Vinyl only until further notice!

Toolroom provide the hotly anticipated return of renowned Glaswegian artist KC Lights, as he delivers yet another classic record in the making – 'Better Times', featuring the stunning voice of Merseyside-hailing Låpsley. A debut collaboration for the pair, as they drop a sweet cut of Disco infused House that will undoubtedly soundtrack the year. A label favourite in every sense of the word, KC Lights is most-known for his 2020 smash-hit 'Girl', a record you couldn't switch off from throughout that summer, followed up by his classy cut 'Cold Light' the following year with reputable vocalist and songwriter Leo Stannard, who also appeared on his summertime anthem 'Daydreamer'. If there's one thing KC Lights can do time and time again, it's writing infectiously catchy, timeless records that you'll hear almost anywhere you go, from underground clubs to radio stations and beyond. Featuring on the record is critically acclaimed vocalist and songwriter Låpsley, who rose to fame back in 2016 with her debut LP 'The Long Way Home' on the legendary XL Recordings. Of course, you can't forget DJ Koze's massive disco edit of 'Operator', which shot Låpsley through the stratosphere. With a string of huge hits and a voice to match, KC Lights and Låpsley come together on 'Better Times', offering three different mixes for this exclusive vinyl package.

Countless radio plays on Radio 1 from Danny Howard, Sarah Story, Pete Tong Other notable radio plays – Kiss FM, Toolroom Radio, Sirius XM, Data Transmission Radio, Radio 1 Dance Anthems, Radio 1 Party Anthems, Rinse FM, Select Radio, Tomorrowland Radio

DJ Support from Danny Howard, Annie Mac, Mistajam, Pete Tong, Charlie Hedges, Kraak & Smaak, Maxinne, Todd Terry, Alex Preston, Full Intention, GW Harrison, DJ Rae, Rudimental, Alaia & Gallo, Illyus & Barrientos, Johan S, David Penn, Sam Divine, Riva Starr, Claptone, Nice7, Dario D’Attis, Mousse T, S-Man, Huxley, KC Lights, Friend Within, Dombresky, Gorgon City, Chris

***
when the phone rings
I too would like to hear words
that might ease
some of this.
***

The 80s Italo disco /proto-house classic 'MBO Theme' by the mighty Klein & MBO, repressed! Comes with an heavy (and unheard) South African version on the flip. Huge Tip!
The MBO Theme' (1983) has been a dance floor favorite since decades, created by Mario Boncaldo and Tony Carrasco - the legendary Italian/US duo Klein & MBO. The track got support in NYC and Chicago by greats as Larry Levan, Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy.

The rare version on the flip is created by a South-African band called Warrior. Rush Hour explain how they came across the track: We bumped into this version on a South African record digging trip. It took us a few months to realize the scarcity of this version. Ian Osrin, a well respected engineer in South-Africa who was involved in many 80ties and 90ties Bubblegum, Kwaito and South African disco records, explained us about music distribution in South Africa during apartheid. Because the country was culturally banned at the time, a lot of releases weren't imported or exported. Even when a track was huge, like The Klein & MBO Theme'. So South African musicians would create their own versions which were sold locally.

We got in contact with Tony Carrasco from Klein & MBO. He also hadn't heard Warrior's version before, but he liked it as much as we do!'

Reissue of the original ethiopian vinyl compilation. 180g vinyl + heavy cardboard cover.
"Ethiopians' deep-seated ethiocentrism, the legacy of a thousand years of history, has contributed in no small way to their music's strong national identity, particularly impervious to any African influences. Latin influences, so pervasive in the great musical centers of West Africa and the Congo, have been similarly rebuffed, despite the brilliant attempts of a musician like Mulatu Astatke. He was the first and for a long time the only Ethiopian to have studied music abroad (England and USA). In the late '60s, he brought back 'ethio-jazz', as well as a passion for Latin rhythms that was not readily shared by the Ethiopian audience. As early as 1966, he released a single and two LPs in the US entitled Afro-Latin Soul (and a third LP, Mulatu of Ethiopia in 1972), with his Ethiopian Quintet composed of American and Latin-American musicians (Worthy Records). That was three years before Fela's first American tour and six years prior to Manu Dibango's key breakthrough with the release of Soul Makossa in the Western 'pre-World music' market. All this goes to show how much the history of the African continent's musical modernity should be reconsidered in light of the Ethiopian adventure, even though this lone spark bore little relation, musically or ideologically to the musical revolutions initiated most notably by Ghanian highlife, South African jazz, Congolese rumba or, much later on, by Fela."

Under meters of concrete in central Cairo, a relentless buzz rebels and forms a melody. A tired man tunes his machines to catch a snatch of it, and accidentally creates a playground where these abandoned sounds can flourish. They develop a sense of humor and an acid tongue. A few children with bent ears find their way to an alley with an entrance to the playground. They would later describe what they heard as a delicious hybrid: one part cream, one part bubble gum. So, bend your ears and maybe you'll hear it too.

Dana V Andrews is a man who is still very much in love with music of all types. At 23 years old and far from living a perfect life, his love of music led him to go to Los Angeles, California in 1973 with a talented songwriter in search of fame and fortune.

Dana played a role while working on a song and album that was a big hit for the now deceased Mr. Barry White. In 1975 he met David Futch and together they formed a record and publishing company that recorded R&B and Gospel music.

One of the gospel Groups, the Highland Park Community Choir out of Highland Park, Michigan had a song nominated for a Grammy Award in 1976. That same year, Dana V. Andrews recorded two songs titled “Mr. Justice” because he was distressed by the social injustice he saw and still sees in our world. His humble hope was that “Mr. Justice” could be a rallying call for the majority of good people in the world.To unite and vote for responsible, fair, politicians who had helping the people foremost in their hearts. And “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” because he had faith that eventually right will win out over wrong. He still does to this day. He still believes today that when the majority of people stand for righteous justice with genuine love leading the way that governmental bipartisanship will defeat hate, prejudice, and injustice.

Magna Pia - Hieros Gamos (TV002)
Written & Produced by Huseyin Evirgen.
Remix by Inland.
Mastered by Carlos Koschitzky.
Design by Dennis Moya Razafimandimby.
Temporal Variation, 2024

A 5-track VA 12-inch record, featuring music from Olsvangèr, MYKI, Mo.huv, Tingz, Asphalt DJ and Gzardin.
“Ten” expands the label’s rave-dance nostalgic approach to wider realms of ecstatic electronic soundscapes.
The

A1 features Olsvangèr with a galloping-yet deep and groove-heavy house gem, followed by Asphalt DJ & Gzardin on A2 with a pure ravey belter!


A3 Belongs to MYKI with a deep and hypnotic house cut.
B1 Is by Tingz & Mo.huv, a dirty galloping breaky track, bass-heavy, with some ghetto vocals and distorted darbukas.
B2 by DJ Headshot on a downtempo after hours trippy twist.


Repress.

Mong Tong's latest album, "Tao Fire 道火", not only continues the idea behind their previous work, "Indies 印", but also incorporates more local elements such as gamelan music, phin guitar, tabla drums, and Taiwan sisomi.

While sampling more sounds from the street of Southeast Asia, including weddings, funerals, and traditional celebrations, Mong Tong again explores different folk sounds around Austronesia. Different to their last Guruguru Brain release "Mystery 秘神", "Tao Fire 道火" will take us to a land that is both familiar and fresh. Feel the hot, the crowd, humidity, and ecstasy. This time, welcome to Mong Tong's subtropical world.

Here comes the fourth release by Almería-based electronica artist Mynationshit titled ‘The Tycoon’. This is another addition to the independent label ‘Waste Editions’, run by Mynationshit’s frontman Carlos Martín along with his brother Ale. This record highlights Martin’s latest musical touches. Its melancholic undertones juxtaposed with humble romanticism will inspire you. Indubitably, this Spanish artist’s distinguishable nature mixes elements of Electro, Dark Wave, Synth-Pop and Post-Punk. Picture Johnny Cash and Peter Murphy singing catchy tunes to each other while on a cosmic journey to an unknown planet where synths and prose accompany their melodies.

Fate is a funny old thing. One day in 2011, DJ/producer Tom Trago found himself sharing a train journey with Steven Van Lummel, a DIY musician, artist and co-founder of PIP, an underground nightclub and cultural hub in The Hague. Over the course of a rambling, open-ended conversation, the idea of making music together came up; a few weeks later, Trago travelled to van Lummel’s place – a former industrial unit that was now home to a rotating cast of artists and musicians – and didn’t leave for a month.

Cossetted away from the outside world in van Lummel’s loft, with multi-instrumentalists Janneke Nijhuijs and Wieger Hoogendorp joining them to create a musical four-piece, MEGA WEGA was born. Over the course of four weeks, the quartet embarked on an almost continuous creative session punctuated only by impromptu parties and mixing sessions. Life-long bonds were made and over 70 tracks recorded before the mundanity of day-to-day life came calling.

For one reason or another, the project never saw the light of day, with tracks sat gathering dust on hard drives for the best part of a decade. During the madness and loneliness of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trago rediscovered the tracks. Delighted by what he heard, a collective decision was made to add finishing touches and release the resultant album on van Lummel’s PIP Records imprint. Further instruments and vocals were added over two days at Hoogendorp’s studio, before mutual friend Tom Ruig got on board to mix the album.

So, what can you expect from Haunted, Mega Wega’s debut album? First and foremost, it’s the sound of pure creative expression – the distillation of a freewheeling, no-holds-barred, spontaneous musical journey variously inspired by the do-it-yourself ethos of musical counterculture, shared inspirations and influences, epic jam sessions, distant stars (Wega, sometimes known as Fidis or ‘the harp star’, is one of the brightest in the night sky), imaginary journeys across dusty deserts, and the comradeship of four new friends.

Enchanting and alluring, it’s an album that gleefully denies lazy categorization and ploughs its own eclectic, atmospheric musical furrow in vivid sonic detail. It’s a collective exploration of heady musical eclecticism unified by saucer-eyed vocals, low-slung bass, loose-limbed beats, sweaty percussion workouts and hazy electric piano motifs.

Haunted begins with the woozy and hallucinatory slow-burn soundscape of ‘Get Things Done’ – an effects laden shuffle akin to lying flat on your back tripping under an intense desert sun – and ends with the creepy, mind-mangling post-punk funk of ‘Brain Carpaccio’; in between, you’ll find spaced-out, low-tempo lo-fi soul (‘Move Around’, ‘Haunted’), tactile synth-powered boogie revivalism (‘Make Me Work’), deep and off-kilter opioid jazz (‘Copenhagen’), intoxicating psychedelia (‘Last Night on Earth’), piano-laden dream-pop epics (‘Shake Or Fall’), and Latin-infused, percussion-powered hedonism (‘Chopping Heads’).

Born out of spontaneous collaboration and immersive, almost endless recording sessions, Haunted is an album shot through with imagination and boundless energy, captured for posterity by four friends and collaborators at the top of their game.

Salem Rashid Skourlis, a human artist and composer, defies limits to manifest his solo project "fatalism." Drawing inspiration from personal experiences with paganism, pacifism, and immigration, fatalism intertwines otherworldly sounds and post-industrial landscapes. His work, relentless and self-sufficient, illuminates a foreboding future. Founder of @bedouinrecords, he has captivated audiences worldwide in prestigious venues like Berghain, Berlin and KGR(n), Tokyo. fatalism's forthcoming debut album, "fatalism:Gh0st," explores human escapism and the power of music to transcend societal confines. Currently based in Bangkok, Salem continues to forge sonic journeys, prepare film soundtracks, and embark on a solo tour for the release of his new album.

St. Virus is a Covid-themed album born in Covid times. It processes the pandemic phenomenon from the aspect of the individual and sometimes of the pandemic itself on a philosophical level.

The opening track, "Isolation", takes the listener on a journey plagued by the sense of loneliness created by isolation. The ever-present melancholy slowly deepens into an overflowing anxiety without release. The eponymous "St. Virus" is a piece that considers the relationship between man and nature and the viruses that appear in it. They work in their own expected and, upon consideration, very honest way. Are we humans honest like this? Are human beings on some level similar to a virus? “Inherently Destructive” presents the idea of the unsustainability of the current situation. The events around us are fundamentally destructive for the individual person, for society and for the culture it carries. St. Virus is a personal soundtrack through Covid times. Record featuring artists are Tapani Rinne, Wimme Saari and Ville Kuukka.