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Joji returns with long-awaited 4th studio album ‘Piss In The Wind’ via Palace Creek. The new LP cements his place as one of the most distinctive and genre-defying artists of his generation, balancing haunting melodies with gritty yet atmospheric production. The album captures the quiet contradictions that always defined his music, wrestling inner turmoil into something strangely beautiful. Features “PIXELATED KISSES,” “Past Won’t Leave My Bed,” and more.


Joji kehrt mit seinem lang erwarteten vierten Studioalbum „Piss In The Wind“ zurück. Die neue LP festigt seinen Platz als einer der markantesten und genreübergreifendsten Künstler seiner Generation, der eindringliche Melodien mit einer rauen, aber atmosphärischen Produktion in Einklang bringt. Das Album fängt die stillen Widersprüche ein, die seine Musik seit jeher auszeichnen, und verwandelt innere Unruhe in etwas seltsam Schönes. Mit „PIXELATED KISSES”, „Past Won’t Leave My Bed” und weiteren Titeln.

Welcome to the second instalment of the collaboration between THE REFLEX’ DISCOLIDAYS label and BECAUSE MUSIC in Paris, remixing gems from the ZAGORA catalogue.

Created in 1975 by producer Daniel Vangarde (father of Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter), the Zagora label created some of the most exciting disco music in France, ranging from cult underground artists Who’s Who and Starbow, to massive international hits by the Gibson Brothers, la Compagnie Créole and Black Blood.

On this 12’’, we’ve got two first time ever remixes from LA COMPAGNIE CREOLE, one of the most successful acts in France during the 80’s who expertly mixed tropical sounds from the West Indies with pop and disco to staggering record sales.

With tapes thought to be long lost, a chance find of stems from two of their songs not only makes this release possible, but also perfectly showcases two sides of the band with ‘Le Bal Masqué’ which was a huge hit commercially in 1984 and ‘La Nuit Des Requins’ which is probably their least known and most underground track, both masterminded by songwriters DANIEL VANGARDE and JEAN KLUGER.

‘LE BAL MASQUE’, now devoid of its cheesiest sections, puts the focus on that infectious groove adorned with percussions and electronics but with its singalong chorus intact and stronger than ever. A guaranteed tropical disco floor filler at 122bpm, regardless of your knowledge of the French language!

‘LA NUIT DES REQUINS’, an ode to session musicians found regularly in Paris studios back in the day, gets a complete overhaul by putting the exhilarating drums and killer bass line of the original to the fore into a brand new 124bpm version that is destined to rock the most discerning dance floors the world over.

Released on 180g vinyl with custom artwork on card sleeve designed by AL KENT / MILLION DOLLAR DISCO.

David August's most expansive, ambitious album to date, the Italian – German composer and producer lets his vast sonic universe collapse, rediscovering in its wake an instrument that's been a constant presence in his life. 'Hymns' is a deeply personal set of candid piano – led reflections that tell a simpler but far more distinctive story; rather than concentrate on the life cycle of humanity and civilization, August narrows his field of vision, tracing his own background and re - asserting his relationship with a musical language he'd tried hard to unlearn. An intimate, instinctual album that emerged from isolation and contemplation, 'Hymns' is also a surprisingly hopeful suite of soft hued, evocative improvisations that well up from the depths of the soul. In August's own words, "it should recall light, not darkness."

Franky Wah returns to Crosstown Rebels and reunites with Kuuda on ‘Light Years’.
Dropping on 13th February 2026, the two-tracker sees the acclaimed UK producer continue his collaborative journey alongside the impressive Brighton-based collective for both his and their second appearance on Damian Lazarus’ revered imprint.

Having made a splash with his impactful label debut last summer, Franky Wah returns to Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels imprint with ‘Light Years’, a two-track EP that explores emotion and movement with measured confidence. The release sees the Yorkshire-born producer further embed himself within the Crosstown universe, delivering a project built on patience, progression, and feeling, where every moment earns its weight.

The EP opens with the title track, a wide-screen, hypnotic solo burner that balances uplifting melodic energy with weighty, driving grooves. Built for long moments on the floor, the track unfolds, allowing atmosphere and tension to do the heavy lifting while maintaining a clear sense of momentum throughout. On the flip, Franky reunites with longtime collaborators, producer-songwriter-vocalist trio Kuuda, for their second outing alongside him on Crosstown Rebels with ‘House In My Veins’. Continuing a partnership rooted in shared musical language and emotional depth, the Brighton-based trio is central to the track, bringing drive, earworm vocals, and a distinctive identity, woven seamlessly throughout Franky’s cinematic production - grounding expansive moments with human connection.

Following heavy support from Pete Tong on his Crosstown Rebels debut, and a recent invitation to host Tong’s flagship BBC R1 show at the start of 2026, Franky continues to assert himself as an artist equally at home in club culture’s most intimate spaces and its widest-reaching platforms. Meanwhile, Kuuda continue their impressive start to 2026, hot on the heels of their recent collaboration with Hot Since 82 on Bedrock. This latest partnership delivers a focused yet expressive statement, music designed to breathe, to move, and to resonate long after the lights come up.

VA – BLIS002 is a four-track sonic journey into the heart of mood-driven dub techno, curated by BLACKINSTOCK with a focus on emotional depth, spatial exploration, and stripped-back intensity. Featuring contributions from Noosa Sound System, Mac Rattana, and Chain Selector, this EP weaves together atmospheric yet rhythmically commanding cuts—perfect for immersive listening and nuanced set-building.

A1. Noosa Sound System – Trope (Build 2) opens the record with melancholic elegance, where dub textures are sculpted with warmth and restraint, setting the tone for inward reflection. A2. Noosa Sound System – Allways Rains follows with a shadowy, slow-burning progression—equal parts heavy and hypnotic, layered with raw emotional weight that feels both intimate and expansive.

Flipping to the B-side, B1. Mac Rattana – Om introduces a more buoyant, acid-tinged energy. Its pulsing low end and fluid motion give it a meditative yet tactile quality—inviting movement while maintaining a contemplative core. Closing the EP, B2. Chain Selector – Techno Dub delivers a deep, cavernous excursion—dark, refined, and uncompromising in atmosphere. With its textured delays and mounting pressure, it stands as a statement piece for those who crave depth over flash.

At once bouncy, raw, and emotionally resonant, BLIS002 is crafted for listeners who embrace dub techno as a language of feeling and form. Deep, suspenseful, and sonically purposeful—this is a release designed not only for the club, but also for the introspective spaces between.

BLACKINSTOCK is a division of MixCult Records

Limited edition

a time patterned is Lara Somogyi’s second full-length work: an electroacoustic harp record that maps personal transformation through rhythm, resilience and resonance. Built from loops, pedal textures and electronics, virtuosic arpeggios, stacked tape machines, ambient processing, contemporary extended harp techniques, sweeping symphonic language, and field recordings.

Ben Kwellers zweites Album "On My Way" (2004), das bislang noch nie auf Vinyl erschien, erhält nun die Deluxe-Behandlung. Damit wird zugleich einem zwei Jahrzehnten alten Wunsch der Fans entsprochen: diesen Titel endlich im Schallplattenformat in den Händen zu halten. "On My Way (Deluxe)" erscheint als Doppel-LP und umfasst das Originalalbum – neu gemastert von der Audio-Legende Howie Weinberg – sowie 12 bislang unveröffentlichte Raritäten, darunter Demos & B-Seiten, die allesamt aus der "On My Way"-Ära stammen. Langjährige Fans werden einige dieser Raritäten noch von Live-Konzerten (das Elvis-Cover "Can't Help Falling In Love With You") oder aus Zeiten von Napster und Limewire (der Song "Tylenol") kennen. Wer bereits die "Sha Sha (Deluxe)"-Ausgabe von Kwellers Debütalbum besitzt, wird diese zweite Veröffentlichung sicherlich als perfekte Ergänzung für die eigene Sammlung betrachten.

'Cuéntame cosas tuyas' is perfect pop with flawless arrangements; it's crossed over into the international soul scene, made its way into playlists by DJs like Gilles Peterson, and was even covered in the early 2000s by La Costa Brava-proof of its appeal among an ever-broader audience. On the B-side you'll find the superb '¡Yeah!', packed with soul and funk flair. Two irresistible tracks that, after years out of print, we're putting back into circulation with the reissue of this essential record-one that's practically impossible to find in its original pressing. Few late-'60s Spanish pop songs have reached the status that 'Cuéntame cosas tuyas' has earned decades after its original 1969 release. The single, put out by Barcelona label Belter, has become one of the most coveted gems for collectors of '60s sounds. 'Cuéntame cosas tuyas' is perfect pop with flawless arrangements-a sure-fire dance-floor killer, right up there with Elia y Elizabeth's 'Alegría' in any imaginary ranking of Spanish-language pop anthems. Although originally from Valencia, Los Ros (formerly Los 4 Ros) built their career in Palma de Mallorca and released nearly twenty singles on Belter. Between 1968 and 1970, their friendly, commercial pop started weaving in bolder elements drawn from soul, funk, and even psychedelia-something you can also hear on the B-side of this very single, featuring the superb '¡Yeah!'

Daniele Baldelli and Jolly Mare come together for a record that feels less like a collaboration and more like a shared state of mind. Flusso Uno moves through Afro-cosmic kraut-inflected psychedelia and cinematic electronics with a natural, unforced flow, where rhythm, texture and narrative all pull in the same direction.
Rather than referencing the past, the EP treats it as a living language. The longform, ritualistic percussion of early cosmic dance culture meets the hypnotic motorik pulse of krautrock and the more structured, sample-driven tribalism that followed in later decades. What ties it all together is a deep sense of atmosphere and intention: music that feels physical, emotional and quietly transportive.
“We particularly focused on ritual percussions, hypnotic grooves and suspended atmospheres, trying to blend musical anthropology, auteur electronics and narrative instinct.”
Dhol Parade opens the journey like a slow-burning procession, drums circling and expanding as if guiding the listener into another space. With Icari the perspective lifts, melodic lines drifting and tilting, constantly searching for balance between gravity and flight. Huldufolk pulls everything back into a shadowy, nocturnal zone, where textures feel half-real, half-imagined.
Finally, Viaggio Tascabile loses the record in a quietly reflective way, a compact voyage that sums up the EP’s philosophy: small in scale, deep in meaning. Flusso Uno is not about nostalgia or revivalism. It is about taking the spirit of cosmic culture and letting it breathe in the present, where storytelling, dancefloor intuition and sonic exploration still meet. A record made for open ears, open minds and long nights.

Der australische Progressive-Rock-Gigant Karnivool kehrt mit "IN VERSES" endlich zurück. Das Album ist der Nachfolger ihres weltweit gefeierten und in Australien auf Platz 1 der Charts gelandeten Albums "Asymmetry". Das vierte Album der Band ließ so lange auf sich warten, dass es fast schon legendär ist. Nach einigen Fehlstarts und einem langen, heißen Sommer im Studio in Perth ist es nun endlich da. In Zusammenarbeit mit ihrem gleichgesinnten Produzenten Forrester Savell (Sound Awake, Themata) hat die Band ein musikalisches Meisterwerk geschaffen, das sich frisch anfühlt und gleichzeitig auf ihren beliebten Backkatalog Bezug nimmt. "IN VERSES" erweitert den Umfang ihrer weitläufigen Klanglandschaften und schafft es dennoch, Momente zu kreieren, die nur Karnivool-Songs so beflügeln können. Damit beweist das Album eindeutig, dass es Dinge gibt, auf die es sich zu warten lohnt.

Karnivool haben weltweit über 300.000 Alben verkauft und sind an den meisten Orten aufgetreten, an denen sie spielen wollten. Sie sind eine feste Größe auf europäischen Festivals wie Download, Rock am Ring, Hellfest und Copenhell sowie an weit entfernten Orten wie Südafrika, Indien, Dubai und natürlich Australien.

Limited edition of 2000 indivudally numbered copies on crystal clear vinyl
In 1988, Soda Stereo released their fourth studio album, Doble Vida. This time, they got the help of none
other than Carlos Alomar for the production. The renowned Puerto Rican guitarist has a history of collaborations
with David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and Paul McCartney.

This collaboration introduced a variety of new genres and influences, including funk, soul, and R&B. After fully recording the album in New York City, the band entered a
new stage in their career, allowing them to break into the US market. The tour to promote the album spanned the entire American continent and the album sold a million copies worldwide.

RASTER MEDIA 30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY EDITION REPRESS / 180 G VINYL
Ich bin meine Maschine features remixes by Boys Noize, Function and AtomTM himself.
to underline this tryptic statement (and to demonstrate the diversity) of one of atom™'s compositions that appeared on his 2013 'HD' album, raster-noton now releases a vinyl ep featuring remixes by boys noize, function and atom™ himself. 'ich bin meine maschine', in an elaborate manner, illustrates uwe schmidt´s main musical concern - the exploration of electronics in pop music. inspired by a statement of the cybernetician heinz von foerster, atom™ constructed/generated a message that is playing around with a widely-cited kraftwerk quotation, turning 'ich bin eine maschine' into 'ich bin meine maschine' (i am my machine). besides the album version of 'ich bin meine machine,' the ep features some dominantly techno infuenced versions that perfectly connect the pop attitude of 'HD' with dancefoor functionality. the boys noize remix shows off alexander ridha´s deft skills for translating atom™´s futuristic pop into his own rough and driving electronic language. on the other hand, atom™'s 'linear remix' breaks down the original structure of the song and turns it into a reduced and much straighter, forward looking composition. function - one of techno's true underground heroes - provides a remix that is breathing the air of solid and hypnotic club music, in which just the essential elements are streamlined and ondensed into perfection. all 3 remixers adapt the track to their particular universe. by doing so, they prepare the 12' vinyl for its fnal destination - the club.

Accepting the darkness can be a liberating experience. Realising, and struggling with just who we are and what world we live in requires it. By further complicating the fractured sense of beauty found on his droning 2022 release, ‘I dreamt we found a way’, Bristol-based composer, Rob Winstone creates a language that encapsulates the lifelong reach for our own personal heavens, along with the darkness and fear on which those foundations are built.

Winstone’s instrumental palette continues to reach out far from behind his keyboards, however the sound of ‘sifting through heaven’ is stripped back and pared down, putting melody front and centre. 'postcards and loose tea', a love song written for Winstone’s partner during a period coming to terms with health difficulties had previously self-released with heavy spectral and granular manipulation from the artist. Here Winstone re-presents the original: “the stripped back recording I made in my old damp and cold studio that was in a building that has since been demolished”. It reflects the composer’s own journey, doing away with veils and histrionics, and embracing emotional bliss wherever it can be found, warts and all. Even the rumbling dark ambience of ’hospital corridor’ - where distant chimings, groans, and droplets synthesized from field recordings made nervously in a hospital waiting for test results coalesce - harbours a sacred-seeming beauty and aseptic warmth within its very bleak sense of dread.

There’s no better way to describe Winstone’s method than ‘sifting through heaven’. The hymnal organ chords, sketched out acoustic guitar phrases, scattering drum thuds, and meditative field recordings may flit between tenebrous to incandescent, but his focus is always on the embrace of love; “a view of life that embraces positive growth, yet doesn't deny immense suffering,” as he puts it. The album is bookended by two of Winstone’s most outright peaceful moments, summarising his core message: 'in spite of it all...' '...love finds a way'.

Concrete City's two residents re-emerge with 'Serious Coin', the second long-player from label head DJ Superherb and long-time collaborator Ten Years Lost. Where their 2023 debut basked in heat-hazed hedonism, this follow-up sharpens the focus. At times deeper, and consistently drawing from the pair's shared language, Serious Coin is an unmissable entry in the Full Dose catalogue.

Across eight tracks, the duo lean further into their soulful instincts, balancing weighty low-end pressure with a distinctly human emotional warmth. Vocoded vocals, coalescing with dungeon synths, being carried by heavily swung rhythms represent a new strand in the pair's musical DNA.

The album captures the stillness of early morning city streets, yet still manages to push rhythmic elements forward. Barely-present samples and subtly detuned synths give the tracks a lived-in feel, as if they’ve already soundtracked a hundred late nights before reaching your speakers.

Like the first, this album has one foot firmly in dancefloor utility and the other in headphone introspection. Don't miss this dustier and deeper evolution to the Full Dose sound!

Ideologic Organ freut sich, die brandneuen Aufnahmen von The Necks zu präsentieren, dem legendären australischen Trio, das sich durch die Umgehung musikalischer Klischees auszeichnet und gleichzeitig die Praktiken der Improvisation, des Jazz, des Post-Rock, des Ambient, des Minimal und der texturierten, ,klangbasierten" Musik erforscht und erweitert. Das neueste Werk dieses langjährigen Ensembles, Unfold, präsentiert sich als Doppel-LP mit vier seitenlangen Tracks. Das bewusste Fehlen von nummerierten Seiten gibt dem Hörer viel Raum, sich einzubringen, und lässt ihn seinen eigenen Weg durch die Klanglandschaft finden. Die kürzere Länge des Vinylformats ist für die Mitglieder des Ensembles kein Hindernis, sondern bietet ihnen einen kompakteren Horizont zum Nachdenken, in dem die zurückgelegte Strecke auf unmittelbarere und dynamischere texturale Aspekte neu ausgerichtet wird. Die Unmittelbarkeit von ,Rise" bestätigt diesen neuen Weg, während die traurigen Töne von Lloyd Swantons Bass um Chris Abrahams' kristallklares Klaviermotiv wirbeln und Tony Bucks Percussion den Prozess in erleuchtende Free-Jazz-Gefilde lenkt. ,Blue Mountain" bahnt sich einen Weg durch das klangliche Unterholz, wobei Soul-Orgel, rasselnde Percussion, Pfeifen und hüpfende Schallwellen um den Vordergrund wetteifern. ,Overheard" behält eine erhabene melancholische Aura, während Percussion und Keyboards sich gleichzeitig umarmen und auseinanderfallen, während ,Timepiece" als sanfte Geste weiterer Möglichkeiten dahinspringt. Wie genau The Necks ihre besondere Magie entfalten - so einfach es auch scheinen mag -, während sie sich immer weiterentwickeln, kann nur vermutet werden, aber ,Unfold" beweist einmal mehr, dass Regeln und Schulen gebrochen und zu Mustern und Rahmenwerken umgestaltet werden müssen, die sich von denen unterscheiden, die wir kennen.

"At Your Pace" is the second full-length album from Berlin-based duo Modha - drummer/producer Dhanya Langer and multi-instrumentalist Max Scholl. Following their acclaimed 2023 debut "Through The Cycle", which tackled mental health and vulnerability through soulful, genre-blurring compositions, "At Your Pace" doubles down on their signature approach: raw textures, emotional honesty, and deep collaboration.

DJ Support: BEN UFO, Solomun, Marco Carola, Damian Lazarus, Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati, Ilaria Alicante, Michael Bibi, Paco Osuna, D'Julz, Groove Armada, Dennis Cruz, Chloe Caillet, Kettama and many more

Enzo Siragusa opens 2026 with his ‘Kilimanjaro Sound’ EP, a release that expands on last year’s standalone single. Marking both Enzo and FUSE’s first drop of the year, the EP delivers the latest instalment in his longstanding Kilimanjaro concept while reaffirming the label’s position at the heart of underground club culture.

Following the digital release of ‘Kilimanjaro Sound’ back in October, the full EP frames the title track within a broader narrative of rhythm, atmosphere, and movement. A long-time fixture in Enzo’s sets throughout 2025, the title track established itself as a fan favourite through its rolling percussion, weighty low-end, and expansive spatial design, and now it takes on renewed presence on vinyl. New cut ‘Liquify’ pushes deeper into Enzo’s rhythmic sensibilities, pairing fluid groove structures with subtle tension and release. Designed for late-night floors, the track unfolds patiently, allowing swing, texture, and space to do the heavy lifting. It’s a natural continuation of the Kilimanjaro language, less about immediacy, more about immersion, showcasing his refined understanding of how momentum is built and sustained in true club environments.

Completing the EP is a remix from Giammarco Orsini, whose Garage Dub Mix of ‘Kilimanjaro Sound’ offers a fresh perspective while remaining true to the original. Born in Italy and now based in Berlin, Orsini has quietly evolved into one of the scene’s most respected selectors and producers, with releases on Cragie Knowes, Mood Waves, and Shonky’s Stoned Pilot. His interpretation strips the track back to its essentials, reintroducing it through a garage-leaning lens that prioritises groove, swing, and subtle pressure.

As the first release following FUSE’s latest DJ Mag Best of British Award, marking their second Best Club Event win, the EP reflects the values that have long defined the brand: community, longevity, and music built for real dancefloors. Pressed to wax, the release extends one of Siragusa’s most recognisable concepts and sets the tone for the year ahead - measured, confident, and rooted in the underground.

Finnish dub-techno craftsman TM Shuffle, head of Vuo Records, resurfaces with a deep and distilled EP that goes straight for the late-night heart of the dancefloor. Rooted in Tampere’s raw, analog dub sound, his productions have long balanced weight and warmth, smoked-out chords, rolling low-end and subtle shuffle that keeps the groove in constant motion.
The lead track “Kellari” dives into basement mode: pressure-cooker drums, slow-burning stabs and a humid, lived-in atmosphere that feels equally at home on a huge system or in headphones at 4 a.m. On the second original cut, TM Shuffle links up once again with long-time collaborator Monoder, the alias of Jussi-Pekka Parikka, known for his dubbed-out explorations on labels like Statik Entertainment and Pakkas-Levyt since the early 2000s. Their joint track stretches time, letting echo, tape hiss and distant melodic fragments float around a rock-solid groove, channelling years of shared studio language into one focused, hypnotic flow.
On the flip, Anton Kubikov (SCSI-9) steps in with a lush reinterpretation of Kellari. A true Russian techno veteran with a catalog that spans Kompakt, Force Tracks, Mayak and beyond, Kubikov melts the original into a widescreen, dream-state trip, soft-focus pads, gentle yet insistent percussion and that unmistakable rolling pulse that made his work so enduring. The remix doesn’t just extend the track; it opens a new dimension, turning the basement pressure into a slow-rising, celestial drift.
Pressed on limited coloured vinyl, this EP is built for selectors who like their dub techno deep, human and timeless, a record that will quietly live in bags for years and keep resurfacing whenever the room calls for true late-night elevation.

CPEN is the alias of Chris Penny and his 'Pirates Life' EP on Seasons Recordings back in the 2000s is one of our all-time favourites. It was used on Craig Richards's fabric mix and still sounds original more than a quarter of a century on as the man behind it has gone on to work with Luke Solomon and Honey Dijon on a Grammy-winning album. It's the title cut that does it for us with the way the groove is so languid and loose as it hangs just above the floor and deep space sounds colour the airwaves. 'Song Of The Muse' is a beautiful synth scape stripped of rhythm and 'Liquid Steps' has a little more bite but still roll on nice soft kicks with life-affirming keys up top. 'Third Quarter' is a majestic post-club comedown with all of CPEN's signature synth sounds and even some brassy smears, making it an utter downtempo delight.

2025 Repress

Quickly following March’s The Fool - our label debut - Sa Pa reveals his new album Ambeesh on Short Span.

Coming five years after In A Landscape, and nearly a decade since his debut Fuubutsushi, Ambeesh pulls together a previously hidden body of work.

Written between 2014-2019 and long held in reserve awaiting the right moment for release, the album has often been grouped conceptually as a follow up to his FORUM debut. There’s a strong through line connecting the unique language and liveliness of ambient, layered field recordings, and dub techno found in those earlier records, as well as the seamless skydive through pressure formations found in the Enter Sa Pa production mix, which hinted at several of these tracks.

These pieces have taken time to surface and fully catch the light, but there’s still little else that compares. It’s a cache of some of his deepest and most texturally thrilling music, some of which have been rattling around in our ears and minds and conversation for years and have now found the right home and time. Forward thinking and singular in its combination of atmosphere; Ambeesh can press on the body at the right volume, and moves in thrust and riposte with the listener’s circadian rhythms. Sa Pa continues to dissolve the border between club-informed experimentation and intimate headphone listening.

Ambeesh also marks the artist’s return to Australia and the beginning of a new phase.

Mastered by Miles. Digital release of Lexanconical mastered by CGB @ Dubplates & Mastering.

Art from The Designers Republic.

Prolific beat pharmacist par excellence Brendon Moeller continues his hot streak with a return to Samurai to serve up the exquisite craftsmanship of Shadow Language. Across 15 fresh productions the seasoned house and techno producer demonstrates yet more variations on his rejuvenated sound since pivoting towards 160 tempo zones. Heavyweight dub techno pulses collide with D&B pressure and dubstep snarl, delivered with devastating restraint and mediative warmth.

Moeller's dub-informed, high-grade production hit a hot streak as he started to experiment with faster tempos and more broken rhythms, reaching into thrilling new sound fields where fast-slow rhythmic intrigue meets with spatial subtlety and constantly evolving synth voices. The past year has seen him release a swathe of albums, from Further on Samurai to outings on Constellation Tatsu, ESP Institute and Quiet Details that all burst with inspiration, each distinct from the last and offering an original perspective on this rich seam of crossover electronics.

Shadow Language shows Moeller burrowing even deeper into this new era of his work, continuing the hypnotic approach set out on Further while edging more forthright ingredients into the mix. From the outset 'Division By Zero' hits with immediacy even as it dips into a dubwise breakdown, with snatches of vocal and even the iconic loom bird making the slightest of appearances. 'Feral Hymn' finds a curious kind of uplift in the synth chord that twists in and out of the mental techno murmurations of the rhythm section. 'Impermanence' has some snarling bass that belongs in the gnarliest tech-step, while the nagging hats ticking through 'Junkyard Syntax' hint at a shockout without resorting to brute force. The majestic dub techno chords of 'Driftform' create a through-line across Moeller's extensive catalogue, but here they dominate the mix above a spongy bed of sub bass throb and framed by the tiniest slithers of percussion.

Throughout the album, it's the implications Moeller suggests with the tools at his disposal that create a powerful energy. Restraint governs the delivery, guiding the listener in deeper until they find a maximal experience from each elegantly understated roller. The weight and presence is abundant across every track, fuelled by the invigorating power of each tone and frequency while avoiding the clutter of overloaded arrangements.

Finding the notes in between and half-hidden rhythms, Moeller himself perfectly summed up his latest opus as he continues to develop his own compelling Shadow Language.

Siriusmo is back! His fourth album, "Buletten & Blumen", will be released in November 2025 – a collection of musical delicacies. Freshly prepared, spicy, and greasy, but as always with a flower on top. The Berlin-based producer, whose real name is Moritz Friedrich, remains true to himself and his distinctive style – between funk, hip-hop, electronica, soundtrack vibes, and genre playfulness. As usual, Siriusmo wanders through musical styles, embracing them, missing them spectacularly – or simply inventing them. A subtle "Berliner Allerlei". The artist himself says of his working method on the album: "I'm a whole band. Nobody masters their instrument, but everyone pretends to – always with the fear that the others will notice." The album begins with the tongue-in-cheek opener "That Could Function As A Song", an ironic exploration of the artist's own creative process. With "Buletten & Blumen," Siriusmo delivers not simple fare, but a multifaceted menu.

Guests: Mr. Oizo, Erobique, Dana (& Claire Waldorff) An album that oscillates between irony, melancholy, and absurdity.

Tracklist:
A1. That Could Funktion As A Song
A2. Hongkong House feat. Liu's Family
A3. Watch Me Fall
A4. Ok So

B1. Baum
B2. The Syntheziser Has Been Drinking
B3. Liquit feat. Mr. Oizo
B4. In Der Klemme

C1. Koko
C2. Langsame Runde
C3. Der Uhrturm
C4. Meissner Schwerter

D1. Dummdidumm
D2. Every Tree Needs A Friend
D3. Lehm feat. Erobique & Dana
D4. Irgendwohin

Big Big Train, die preisgekrönte Progressive-Rock-Band, veröffentlicht ihr 16. Studioalbum. "Woodcut" ist ein Meilenstein für die internationale Gruppe, deren Mitglieder aus England, Schottland, Italien, den USA, Schweden und Norwegen stammen, da es ihr erstes Konzeptalbum in voller Länge ist. "Die Geschichte spielt nicht in einem bestimmten Zeitrahmen, sondern handelt von einem Künstler, der mit dem Leben zu kämpfen hat", beginnt Gründungsmitglied Gregory Spawton. "Er macht einen Spaziergang, findet dieses Stück Kernholz und schafft etwas, das er als schön und anders empfindet. Vielleicht ist es ein Traum oder vielleicht ist es das echte Leben, aber er findet sich in dieser Narnia-artigen Holzschnittwelt wieder."
"Woodcut" ist ein eher bandorientiertes Werk, zu dem alle sieben Mitglieder einen beeindruckenden Beitrag leisten, wobei Frontmann Alberto Bravin die Federführung als Produzent übernommen hat: "Dieses Mal ist es eine Art neues Statement für die Band. 'Woodcut' ist für uns ein großer Schritt nach vorne", kommentiert er. Mit 16 Titeln und einer Spielzeit von 66 Minuten wirkt "Woodcut" episch, ohne sich zu sehr in die Länge zu ziehen.
Das Album ziert ein auffälliges Cover-Design des in Dorset ansässigen Künstlers Robin Mackenzie - natürlich ein schwarz-weißer Holzschnitt, der von einem Holzschnitt abgeleitet ist, den die Band speziell für das Album bei ihm in Auftrag gegeben hat. Erhältlich als limitierte CD + Blu-ray-Edition, einschließlich ausführlicher Liner Notes sowie Dolby Atmos- und 5.1-Surround-Sound-Mischungen von Shawn Dealey von Sweetwater Studios, wird das Album auch als atemberaubende Gatefold-180g-2LP mit speziellem geprägten Cover, Standard-CD-Jewelcase und digital in Stereo- und Dolby Atmos-Versionen erhältlich sein.

THE OPRHIC HYMNS is an ode to the mystical. A celebration of the languid. An exploration of the id. A journey into self. The project was written, performed, and produced by Ryan Grieve and Tom Kuntz over the course of a year in a secluded location, with a few visits from notable guest contributors such as Alex Kassian and Logan Hone to sprinkle in a little of their magic. Kuntz (aka Pinchy Don) is the Pinchy in PINCHY AND FRIENDS. Grieve is the man behind HOLE IN THE SKY RECORDS and projects such as Heart People, Canyons, and Absolute Unity. This is their first release as THE ORPHIC HYMNS.

Joji returns with long-awaited 4th studio album ‘Piss In The Wind’ via Palace Creek. The new LP cements his place as one of the most distinctive and genre-defying artists of his generation, balancing haunting melodies with gritty yet atmospheric production. The album captures the quiet contradictions that always defined his music, wrestling inner turmoil into something strangely beautiful. Features “PIXELATED KISSES,” “Past Won’t Leave My Bed,” and more.


Joji kehrt mit seinem lang erwarteten vierten Studioalbum „Piss In The Wind“ zurück. Die neue LP festigt seinen Platz als einer der markantesten und genreübergreifendsten Künstler seiner Generation, der eindringliche Melodien mit einer rauen, aber atmosphärischen Produktion in Einklang bringt. Das Album fängt die stillen Widersprüche ein, die seine Musik seit jeher auszeichnen, und verwandelt innere Unruhe in etwas seltsam Schönes. Mit „PIXELATED KISSES”, „Past Won’t Leave My Bed” und weiteren Titeln.

Following the reissue of The Pocket of Fever, Ambient Sans presents the second chapter in Masahiro Sugaya’s visionary work for the avant-garde performing arts company Pappa TARAHUMARA.

Founded by Hiroshi Koike in 1982, Pappa TARAHUMARA blended dance, theater, music, and visual art into abstract, immersive stage worlds. Sugaya’s compositions became the sonic counterpart to this radical aesthetic—minimal yet deeply evocative, combining electronics, ambient textures, and delicate melodic gestures into a sound language both intimate and expansive.

Music From Alejo marks his first original stage score for the company: a work where repetition and silence intertwine with shimmering synthesizers and dreamlike motifs, conjuring atmospheres that feel suspended between reality and reverie. More structured than The Pocket of Fever yet equally poetic, the album reveals Sugaya’s gift for translating movement into sound, balancing modern composition with subtle echoes of Japanese tradition.

Reissued for the first time on vinyl, Music From Alejo includes a printed insert featuring an exclusive interview with the artist, alongside photographs from our visit to his home in Japan. Essential listening for anyone drawn to the ambient minimalism of Hiroshi Yoshimura, Midori Takada, or Brian Eno—reimagined here through the lens of Tokyo’s experimental scene of the 1980s.

Grace & Raffaella is the first collaborative release by ML and Vittoria Totale. Over nine tracks, the album strikes a deceptively minimalist tone, taking in a ton of musical as well as literary references. An elegy on a journey back to the present, with all the hushed intensity of an informed fever dream, Grace & Raffaella has a magic-realist feel. Its vocal parts serve as loopy self-fulfilling prophecies. Cut off from the sun, the gorge grows darker. Using an electroacoustic sense of spacing, as well as abstracted current-day club influences, with scraps of background noise fading in and out, this album's use and treatment of a snippet-like narrative is its core aesthetic. A digital gleam drenches the spoken bits into instances of subtle surrealism. Like a kitchen sink drama stripped of all deadweight. We are on the edge of relinquishing all control here. Rip up your diary and let go of the language of the old ones. Grace & Raffaella is a seductive slice of modern hyper-pop that defines its own intentions over and over again.

LOSOUL is back on SLICES OF LIFE with two minimal house gems!

Frankfurt-based DJ and producer legend LOSOUL is renowned for his unique sonic language and deep, captivating grooves.
On his latest release for the Berlin imprint, the tracks take us on a journey back to the roots of minimal house - raw, stripped-down, and deeply immersive.

"Post Service Pop" on the A-side flows deep and funky, spreading pads like hot oil, topped with subtly modulated vocal snippets.

"Modesty Bump" on the B-side dives into rawer territory with high-energy sounds and edgy sonic sparkles, while maintaining that minimalistic, steady, driving groove we all love in Losoul’s work: groovers and grinders for the long-distance runner’s soundtrack.

More than thirty years after conquering dance floors across Europe, Mo-Do’s “Eins, Zwei,
Polizei” returns in a special picture disc reissue, available in record stores from January
30, 2026.
Originally released in 1994, the track quickly became a defining anthem of 90s eurodance,
blending driving electronic beats, a hypnotic German-language chant, and an infectious
club energy that still feels fresh today. Mo-Do turned a simple counting rhyme into a
worldwide phenomenon—one that continues to ignite dance floors, throwback playlists,
and DJ sets around the globe.
This new picture disc edition goes beyond sound, offering a highly collectible visual
experience. The striking design enhances the iconic imagery associated with the project,
making it as appealing to display as it is to play. It’s a reissue that honors both the artist
and an era, preserving the immediacy and impact that made “Eins, Zwei, Polizei” a true
timeless classic.

A must-have release for vinyl collectors, 90s dance enthusiasts, and anyone looking to
rediscover one of the most recognizable tracks in European dance music history.

Club Splendore was born in 2022 in Modena, Italy, as an itinerant party and club format.

In just a few years, it has established itself as one of the most recognizable disco-oriented projects within the new Italian nightlife scene, exporting its sonic and visual identity to iconic clubs and international settings.

With over 20 dates in a single year, recurring sold-outs and a diverse crowd, Club Splendore has evolved into an experience that goes beyond the dancefloor: an inclusive, label-free space where music, style and attitude coexist under red lights and immersive atmospheres. The format has appeared in some of the most relevant venues across Europe, including Villa Delle Rose (Riccione), Palazzina Grassi (Venice), Matis Club (Bologna), Hierbas Club (Cortina), while also expanding internationally with dates at Do Not Disturb – W Hotel Amsterdam, COYA Mykonos, and House Party London, confirming the project’s ability to connect with an international audience. From the club to the record.

Club Splendore Vol.1 is the project’s first official vinyl release and marks a natural step forward: capturing on physical format the sound that has been defining its dancefloors over the past years. The record explores a contemporary take on Italo Disco, infused with classic disco, funk and modern house elements, delivered with an ironic, sensual and direct approach. A sound that reinterprets the aesthetics of the ’80s without nostalgia, translating them into a current, club-focused language. Behind the production and on the decks: Sparkling Attitude, Nicola Zucchi and Matteo Mussoni, resident DJs of the format and the core musical force behind Club Splendore.

Side A features “Drink Campari”, an italo disco track built around warm, enveloping textures, elastic basslines, bright synths and a late-night groove. A story of summer desire and endless nights, playing with the iconography of Italian Red Passion in a light, effortless way.

Side B hosts “Madame”, a bonus track and electronic ballad with a more intimate, suspended mood. A track designed for the final hours of the night, when the club slows down and the dancefloor gives way to something more personal.

Club Splendore Vol.1 is not a compilation, but a statement of intent. A first chapter that brings the club experience beyond the club itself, staying true to the promise that has defined the project from the very beginning: “We will bring the light into the darkness of the night.

Repressed!!

Peggy Gou is proud to announce the launch of her own independent record label, Gudu Records. The label's first release will be the Moment EP - a two-track 12' featuring the tracks 'Starry Night' and 'Han Pan'.
'Moment' sees Gou continue to explore the charismatic facets of her musical and personal identity, drawing on her Korean heritage and language and her love for house & disco's Eighties heritage, with particular nods to the output of labels such as Prelude and West End Records in the decade's nascent years.
Gou's own singing voice, known to so many from last year's 'Once' EP, returns here to confidently guide the rhythm on 'Starry Night'. Mixing both Korean and English vocals over a tumbling cascade of percussion and piano house keys, the track builds to incorporate layers of instrumental samples and subtle acid lines. Romantic, anthemic and timeless in its feel, it reaffirms Gou's skill as a songwriter with appeal that resonates beyond crowded dancefloors, not to mention language barriers.
'Han Pan' follows as an instantly rhythmic affair that draws energy from a memorable and delicately tuned pan-drum. Alongside some expert and understated arrangement, as well as another, contrasting vocal performance, 'Han Pan' transmits a different but equally powerful energy.

Joe Claussell reimagines 3 tracks from Patrick Gibin's 2024 successful debut album 'Strength In Numbers' for Mother Tongue. These are not simple remixes but complete translations into the NYC legend's own language where the words Cosmic and Spiritual go hand by hand. The depth of these new versions is another testament of Joe's ability to always push the Sound to new heights!
'Let It Go' is manipulated into a dancefloor opus rich of sonic surprises and magnificent synth workouts.
'Joint Purpose' is present here in two versions, the deep and complex 'Teenage Music' mix and the thunderous 'Dub Dub' take which is exactly how it's called: an epic out of body bass experience.
'In This Together' comes in a full 15 minutes suite with tempo and mood changes which echoes the best 70's fusion and finally in a more ethereal form ('Voice Of Innocence Version') to close the double pack.
A breathtaking travel into Claussell's endless creative imagination where boundaries are won and Music is all that matters!

"Don't Trust Mirrors" markiert eines der prägendsten Kapitel in der Karriere der New Yorker Komponistin und Produzentin Kelly Moran. 2019, frisch von der Tour zu ihrem Warp-Debüt "Ultraviolet", begann sie, inspiriert von langen Nächten auf der Tanzfläche, an einem rhythmischeren Nachfolger zu arbeiten. Doch persönliche Umbrüche und die pandemiebedingt unterbrochenen Tourneen änderten ihren Weg und führten zunächst zu "Moves In The Field" (2024), das von der New York Times als "weichherzig, aber stahlhart" gelobt wurde. Jetzt kehrt Moran zu dem Projekt zurück, das sie einst pausierte. "Don't Trust Mirrors" erkundet Verzerrung, Reflexion und die langsame Arbeit, sich selbst wieder zusammenzusetzen. Die zehn Tracks mit Warp-Labelkollege Bibio schimmern vor strukturellen Brechungen und bilden eine immersive Reise zu Selbstfindung und Fokus.

Following the reissue of The Pocket of Fever, Ambient Sans presents the second chapter in Masahiro Sugaya’s visionary work for the avant-garde performing arts company Pappa TARAHUMARA.

Founded by Hiroshi Koike in 1982, Pappa TARAHUMARA blended dance, theater, music, and visual art into abstract, immersive stage worlds. Sugaya’s compositions became the sonic counterpart to this radical aesthetic—minimal yet deeply evocative, combining electronics, ambient textures, and delicate melodic gestures into a sound language both intimate and expansive.

Music From Alejo marks his first original stage score for the company: a work where repetition and silence intertwine with shimmering synthesizers and dreamlike motifs, conjuring atmospheres that feel suspended between reality and reverie. More structured than The Pocket of Fever yet equally poetic, the album reveals Sugaya’s gift for translating movement into sound, balancing modern composition with subtle echoes of Japanese tradition.

Reissued for the first time on vinyl, Music From Alejo includes a printed insert featuring an exclusive interview with the artist, alongside photographs from our visit to his home in Japan. Essential listening for anyone drawn to the ambient minimalism of Hiroshi Yoshimura, Midori Takada, or Brian Eno—reimagined here through the lens of Tokyo’s experimental scene of the 1980s.

a1. Straight Line Floating In The Sky
a2. Oldfashioned
b1. An Afternoon When Fish Appeared
b2. Mistral
b3. Alejo's Theme

Der aus Wyoming stammende Troubadour Jeb Loy Nichols kehrt mit ,This House is Empty Without You" zu Timmion Records zurück, einer zeitlosen Sammlung von Songs mit Soul-Wurzeln, die Wärme, Weisheit und stille Intensität ausstrahlen. Erneut unterstützt von Timmions Hausband Cold Diamond & Mink, liefert Jeb ein Album in voller Länge, das sich nahtlos in die Reihe der besten Veröffentlichungen des Labels einreiht - geprägt von den Traditionen des Southern Soul, aber getragen von seiner unverwechselbaren Stimme und seinem lyrischen Touch.Vom sanft dahinschreitenden Opener ,First Night Away from Home" bis zum Schlussstück ,Time On My Hands" entfaltet sich das Album wie ein gutes Sommerbuch, das man am besten mit einer warmen Brise im Gesicht genießt. Nichols hat die Fähigkeit, alles mühelos klingen zu lassen - als würde er nur für Sie singen, von der Veranda oder aus dem Hinterzimmer -, aber wenn man genau hinhört, entdeckt man Songwriting voller Tiefe, subtil arrangiert mit Orgelklängen, knackigen Drums und tiefen Grooves.Neben dem luftigen Midtempo-Romantikstück ,Here With You" gehören zu den weiteren Höhepunkten der rootsige Southern Shuffle ,Good Morning Monday", das herzergreifende ,Coming Home Love" und ,Step In", ein sanfter Groove über Wiederentdeckung und Wiedersehen. Zusammen mit Nichols - und Emilia Sisco, deren gospelartige Hintergrundharmonien mehrere Titel zieren - haben sie ein Album geschaffen, das sich an klassischen Einflüssen orientiert, aber unverkennbar persönlich und präsent klingt. ,This House is Empty Without You" ist eine Meisterklasse in zurückhaltendem Soul und beweist, dass Jeb Loy Nichols nicht nur immer noch da ist - er wächst weiter, strahlt und findet neue Wege, die Wahrheit zu sagen.

Welcome to a story in which love and heartbreak go hand in hand.

Falling in love dances beyond time's grasp, Embracing the present becomes our steadfast task, The skin's whispered language, an ancient story told, We're free as waves, in their rhythm bold, Arrivals and departures, part of love's grand scheme, In music, writing, painting, love finds its dream.

So let me tell you about the Art Of Romantic Beings.

Als Dublins Gurriers 2024 ihr Debütalbum Come And See veröffentlichten, bewiesen sie eindrucksvoll, dass sie eine der drängendsten und unüberhörbaren neuen Stimmen der boomenden irischen Punk-Szene sind. Seitdem haben sie sich mit knochenerschütternden, moshpit-tauglichen Live-Shows einen stetig wachsenden Ruf erarbeitet. Come And See stellte dabei auch ihre lyrische Stärke und ihren neugierigen, gesellschaftskritischen Blick in den Vordergrund – mit Songs über digitale Verlorenheit und die ganz realen Schrecken der modernen Welt.
Das grandiose zweite Album des Quintetts heißt Nobody's Coming To Save You – könnte aber ebenso gut den Untertitel „härter, besser, schneller, stärker" tragen. Es wird am 25. September auf Play It Again Sam veröffentlicht.

Aufgenommen in Donegals Attica Studios und den Holy Mountain Studios in London, produziert von Mark Bowen (Idles) und Loren Humphrey (Geese, Cameron Winter), engineered von Chris Fullard (Idles, Sunn O)))) und gemixt vom weltbekannten John Congleton (St. Vincent, Modest Mouse, Swans) – allein das Team, das sich für LP2 zusammengefunden hat, spricht Bände. Gurriers nehmen alles, was sie von Anfang an großartig gemacht hat – die musikalische Chemie, den klugen, analytischen Blick auf die Welt – und schrauben es konsequent auf das nächste Level.

Von der vibrierenden Spannung der ersten Takte des Titeltracks, die sich in einem kakophonischen, kathartischen Finale entlädt, bis zum Ende: Nobody's Coming To Save You überführt den Geist des schwitzenden Kellerclubs in Stadiondimensionen. Das Album ist nicht nur laut – es ist dynamisch. „Shades" schickt industrielle, kantige Gitarrensplitter in einen brachial-rohen Hardcore-Chorus; „Drones" ist ein druckvolles, langsames Aufbäumen mit einem Drop, der jeden Moshpit zum Kollabieren bringt. „Pins" zeigt eine lässigere, melodischere Seite – irgendwo zwischen Grunge und Trip-Hop –, während „Party Lines" pure, unersättliche Dance-Punk-Ekstase ist. Wer sich fragt, ob die Band ihr Ziel erreicht hat, das Album „wie eine Ohrfeige" wirken zu lassen: Ja, die sitzt.

Mit Nobody's Coming To Save You haben Gurriers ihre Ambitionen in neue Höhen getrieben – und liefern dabei auf ganzer Linie.

Als Dublins Gurriers 2024 ihr Debütalbum Come And See veröffentlichten, bewiesen sie eindrucksvoll, dass sie eine der drängendsten und unüberhörbaren neuen Stimmen der boomenden irischen Punk-Szene sind. Seitdem haben sie sich mit knochenerschütternden, moshpit-tauglichen Live-Shows einen stetig wachsenden Ruf erarbeitet. Come And See stellte dabei auch ihre lyrische Stärke und ihren neugierigen, gesellschaftskritischen Blick in den Vordergrund – mit Songs über digitale Verlorenheit und die ganz realen Schrecken der modernen Welt.
Das grandiose zweite Album des Quintetts heißt Nobody's Coming To Save You – könnte aber ebenso gut den Untertitel „härter, besser, schneller, stärker" tragen. Es wird am 25. September auf Play It Again Sam veröffentlicht.

Aufgenommen in Donegals Attica Studios und den Holy Mountain Studios in London, produziert von Mark Bowen (Idles) und Loren Humphrey (Geese, Cameron Winter), engineered von Chris Fullard (Idles, Sunn O)))) und gemixt vom weltbekannten John Congleton (St. Vincent, Modest Mouse, Swans) – allein das Team, das sich für LP2 zusammengefunden hat, spricht Bände. Gurriers nehmen alles, was sie von Anfang an großartig gemacht hat – die musikalische Chemie, den klugen, analytischen Blick auf die Welt – und schrauben es konsequent auf das nächste Level.

Von der vibrierenden Spannung der ersten Takte des Titeltracks, die sich in einem kakophonischen, kathartischen Finale entlädt, bis zum Ende: Nobody's Coming To Save You überführt den Geist des schwitzenden Kellerclubs in Stadiondimensionen. Das Album ist nicht nur laut – es ist dynamisch. „Shades" schickt industrielle, kantige Gitarrensplitter in einen brachial-rohen Hardcore-Chorus; „Drones" ist ein druckvolles, langsames Aufbäumen mit einem Drop, der jeden Moshpit zum Kollabieren bringt. „Pins" zeigt eine lässigere, melodischere Seite – irgendwo zwischen Grunge und Trip-Hop –, während „Party Lines" pure, unersättliche Dance-Punk-Ekstase ist. Wer sich fragt, ob die Band ihr Ziel erreicht hat, das Album „wie eine Ohrfeige" wirken zu lassen: Ja, die sitzt.

Mit Nobody's Coming To Save You haben Gurriers ihre Ambitionen in neue Höhen getrieben – und liefern dabei auf ganzer Linie.

Another DINTE tape curated by cult WFMU show and blogger Bodega Pop; Gary Sullivan's long-running project rooted in a passion for digging for music in bodegas and cell-phone stores across NYC's boroughs. This edition focuses in on late 1990s and early 00s hip-hop & rnb from across Southeastern Asia.

"While on a work trip to Chicago in the mid-2000s, I was craving a bowl of pho. A bit of sleuthing led me to hop on the red line "L" up to Argyle Street, ground zero of Chicago's Little Saigon. In the 1960s, Chicago restaurateur Jimmy Wong invested in property on Argyle Street with a vision to build the city's new Chinatown, a kind of mall with pagodas, trees, and reflecting pools. In 1971, the Hip Sing Association, a labor/criminal organization, established itself in the area, and along with Wong, they bought up 80% of the buildings on a three-block stretch of the street. Wong reportedly broke both hips in an accident, leaving his dream to wither; in 1979, Charlie Soo of the Asian American Small Business Association brought it back to life.

Soo expanded the area into a vibrant mix of Chinese, Vietnamese, and other Southeast Asian businesses, pushing for renovations, including an Argyle station facelift and the Taste of Argyle festival. At the time I exited the station and crossed the street to get a better look at a shop with a poster for A Vertical Ray of the Sun in the window, the area was home to some 37,000 Vietnamese residents.

Opening the door, I was gobsmacked by a cavernous Southeast Asian media store, bigger than any I'd been to in Dallas, Montreal, New York, or Seattle. I spent some time at the bins, pulling out collections by some of my then-favorite singers — Giao Linh, Khánh Ly, Phương Dung — before approaching the register to ask the young woman behind the counter if the they carried any Vietnamese rap. It was a longshot, I knew, but if such a thing existed on physical media and anyone carried it, it would be this place.

'Have you heard Vietnamese rap?' she replied, her tone of voice and facial expression betraying a comically exaggerated level of distaste. I admitted my ignorance but assured her that I had long cultivated a high threshold for cheesy pop music of all kinds and genuinely tended to like hip hop from around the world.

She rolled her eyes and pointed to an area I had missed. I walked toward a far corner of the store and knelt over a small box on the floor sparsely populated with CDs, VCDs, and cassettes. I pulled out half a dozen Vietnamese hip hop compilations and a strange-looking CD with a cavalcade of odd typefaces in a queasy multitude of colors: THAILAND RAP HIT, it boasted, with 泰國 "燒香" 勁歌金曲 below it. The information on the back provided an address in Kuala Lumpur and the titles in Thai and English translation. The first track included three simplified Chinese characters after the English-language version of the title, "The Chinese Association": 自己人.

WTF was going on here? Walking back to the register, I waved the CD, asking "What's up with this one?" She gave me a look. I placed it on the counter so she could bask in the cover's full glory. She shrugged. "I'm guessing it's Thai rap?" She looked disappointed in me when I said I'd take it.

It turned out to be a Malaysian pressing of half-Chinese Thai hip hop artist Joey Boy's third album, Fun Fun Fun from 1996, and it completely changed my sense what the genre could sound like. The rapper's self-assured, effortless, silly-but-cool rapid-fire delivery weaved in and out of the most bizarre, antic beats I'd ever heard. The six Vietnamese hip hop CDs were a mixed bag, mostly "serious" sounding mimicry of US rapping over predictable production, but the highs were very high. When I got home and listened to it all, I made a point to find as much hip hop from this part of the world as I could.

The tracks collected here provide a limited but potent reflection of the two-decade ascendency
and ultimate world-takeover of hip hop, as it displaced rock and its endless variants for millions of listeners. This not a fair and balanced overview of regional production: I've only included tracks from Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Nor is this a biggest or most important artists collection; instead, I've tried to recapture the pure visceral thrill of that first time I heard Joey Boy, choosing bangers that sound like nothing else, from nowhere else."

—Gary Sullivan