House News

*Repress*

With the subsequent, planet-sized addition in its musical orbit, Sentry welcomes another critically acclaimed bass music veteran to its coveted artist roster. SP:MC, a multi-faceted producer and vocalist, who cemented his status as a highly talented producer with outstanding releases through Tempa and System among others. Apart from his long-standing residency for the legendary Fabric night club, he's a regular on the microphone for some of the world's most distinguished Drum & Bass and Dubstep events, living and breathing sound system culture. For the eleventh release of Youngsta's imprint, SP:MC takes us all back into a golden age, captivating the charm of old school sonics with riveting minimalism and skank-inducing swing, and extending the iconic flavours of 2-Step, Garage and Breaks into the 21st century - clocking in at 135 BPM.

Conveying hazy and tape-ridden notions, 'Vintage' sets us off on a groove-inducing flow with tempered chord, lush echoes, and intimate vocal fragments. Murderous break-beat rhythms are laid out with unequivocal finesse as the UK-based prodigy delivers heritage sounds in contemporary attire. Classic foley samples interweaved with modern sound design - engineered for the heads. 'Slugfest' commands a more aggressive tone, introducing itself with slick, hallowed percussion and haunting ambience. With the doomsday bassline promptly kicking in, a super-charged groove armada unfolds - heavyweight business. Hypnotic drums hook into your motor cortex as every last cell of your body intermingles with the vibrant low-frequency surges, blasting from the sound system. Scrupulously switching up the push-and-pull dynamics throughout the arrangement, every sound component working at full capacity and in a supremely refined style. Bass music connoisseurs all over, rejoice! These breaks are for you.

Almost a year on from their debut joint single ‘Jesse James’ on WotNot Records, South London producer Dampé and Bristolian MC Mushkilla once again join forces, this time taking to XVI Records for their driving new single ‘Ghost Mode’.

With Mushkilla working closely with rising dubplate label EC2A, and Dampé putting out a series of heralded 12”s on Capitol K’s Faith And Industry Records and Singapore-based imprint Darker Than Wax, both artists have been riding busy schedules since their first release. With praises coming from Tom Ravenscroft, Mixmag, Dummy, DJ Mag, Jamz Supernova & more, they have both cemented themselves as artists to keep a keen eye on in the UK’s bass music communities.

‘Ghost Mode’ sees Mushkilla’s signature baritone vocals gliding over Dampé’s shifting sonic backdrop. Subterranean basslines, chopped breaks, vinyl crackles, stuttering vocal snippets and saturated eski-beat melodies reverberate through the murky haze in this twisted UKG stepper.

Kepler has already been on a barnstorming run over the past 12 months with key drops on Pleasure Zone, Hoarder and Discotech amongst many others, not to mention his killer garage excursions as 0113. Now he shores up on Constant Sound with some fizzing, energetically charged techno that packs a punch and dazzles on top thanks to an acute sense of melody. DX7 organ basslines collide with cosmic arps and a thumping rhythm section on "Contact", while "Afterglow" takes things a little deeper without dropping the tempo. "Movement" revels in a cascade of interwoven synth lines, while "Pulse" takes a leaner, clubbier route without losing that up-for-it rush around the upper 120 BPM range.

Exciting new imprint Humanoid enters the fold with a debut from UK-based label co-owners 4D&Krunky. This impressive first outing from the duo shows off some of their varied influences, from the earliest tech-house sounds to breakbeat, electro and beyond.

The A-side serves up two heavyweight slices, with the dancefloor-ready rolling bass and old-school synths of 'Opelescot' followed up by the heavy breakbeats, stabs and atmosphere of 'Swim with the Tide'. The B-side shows a different side to the boys productions, 'Stunt Bubble' rolling along with uplifting arpeggio lines and fun-loving leads supported by a weighty baseline before 'Seasaw' finishes out the EP joyfully with it's sun-washed nostalgia and playful elements.

collecting orders for repress!

Soul Mass Transit System returns to Time Is Now with the weighty ‘Blocked’ EP featuring a collaboration with legendary vocalist Killa P.

Mysterious producer Soul Mass Transit System has been pumping out some serious twelves this year, with killer cuts on labels such as Warehouse Rave, Time Is Now & Rhythm & Vibe. His latest outing ‘Blocked’ EP is the rising producers weightiest work to date, lead track ‘Blocked’ featuring legendary ex Roll Deep member Killa P does some serious damage, backed with three rolling UKG cuts of groovers and movers, best played loud.

Anz makes her Hessle Audio debut with a club-ready three track EP, following releases on the label by Pearson Sound and Pangaea in July. Lead track 'Loos In Twos (NRG)' goes turbo, with a ruffneck bassline, clattering breakbeats and dramatic rave stab breakdowns all combining to memorable, killer effect. On the B side, 'Gary Mission' gets loose with disorientating flanged FX and a wriggling low end, with the minimal beat track 'Stepper' using sharp vocal snippets and chest-rattling sub to light up the dance.

Anz is a DJ and Producer based in Manchester (via London, Liverpool and Madrid). Renowned for her genre-spanning productions and mixes, she unearths the links between Electro, UK Garage, Jungle and more, underpinning a versatile take on contemporary UK club music that is as bright as it is unpredictable.

Mint Condition continue their mission excavating the outer fringes of classic House and Techno. Unreleased mixes, classics and overlooked gems mined from the last 20+ of contemporary dance music are the order of the day. From Chicago, Detroit and New York to London and beyond, Mint Condition have got their expert digging hats on to bring you exclusive heat and those rarer than rare jams that have been on your wants list for years! Dig in ...

Jhelisa Anderson's voice was ubiquitous throughout the mid 90's and beyond, her debut LP Galactica Rush had been released by Dorado to critical acclaim and Friendly Pressure was a huge single that crossed numerous underground borders, finding favour with soul fans and clubbers and DJ's alike, providing a late-night/early morning soundtrack to weekends spent partying, expressing and hanging out.

Dorado commissioned numerous remixes of this future classic, but it was Ceri Evans' aka Sunship whose 2-step/UKG remixes in 1998 solidified Friendly Pressure as a stone-cold pirates anthem, a total smash on the buzzing UK Garage scene. Evans had been a member of the UK's legendary Jazz-funk outfit The Brand New Heavies, so his sound was a swinging fusion of soul, jazz and snapping UKG drum programming.
Fused with Jhelisa's beautiful voice, the Sunship mixes are now regarded as classics and will undoubtedly bring the vibes to any dancefloor, sounding as fresh and soulful as they did back in 1998.

Friendly Pressure has been legitimately re-released with the full involvement of Dorado Recordings and was remastered by London's Curve Pusher from the original DAT's especially for Mint Condition. 100% legit, licensed and released. Dug, remastered, repackaged and brought to you by the caring folks at your favourite reissue label - Mint Condition!

Sound of Ukg & 2-step trax on this wax.

DJ support from Brackles and Peverelist.

Samrai is a founding member of Swing Ting, a DJ and production squad behind club nights of the same name in Manchester. They have two 12"s to their name on Fat City (Head Gone and Creepin) as well as remixes for Mosca, Murlo and Beneath. Riddim Trax is Samrai's first solo release.

His 'riddims' are deceptively simple fusions taking in a spectrum of soundsystem influences and UK dance music, including dancehall, soca, afrobeats and UK garage. The EP opens with the summery "Let It Ride", featuring Swing Ting MC Mr Fox's vocal in classic singjay mode. Instrumental version "Responsibility Riddim" follows, before the B-side plunges into more rugged territory with "Problematic Riddim" and the brutal "Concrete Riddim".

Get your lucky penny out of your pocket it's time for Scratch Discs.

Every copy comes with a special scratch card with a host of bang average prizes to be won

New Calibre 4 track EP on Craig Richards' The Nothing Special Label, that plays with Breakbeat Garage, House and Dubstep..

Jam Dem Sounds, a new label by CMYK, will keep a solid foot on the dancefloor, while also exploring unconventional grooves and dipping into home-listening music.

Its first EP by upcoming artist Ease Up George reflects this ethos. While the main tracks focus on stripped-down & dubby UKG, the EP then moves into a catchy footwork number and a spaced-out dub reggae track.

The pressing is strictly limited, and the records will come as hand-stamped white labels packaged in a recycled paper sleeve.

For DSD023, Bailey Ibbs serves up a killer with his ‘Gurl’ EP. The A side delivers 3 Bailey originals, each serving up a different mood best suited for the dance floor. Where the B side provides 3 completely different flips of ‘Gurl’ delivered to you by Groovy D, Denham Audio & AK Sports.

Incl. DJ Central & Priori Remixes!

It’s ten down for Haŵs, and what better way to celebrate than to have Adam Pits step up for ‘Element X’, a relentless, cutthroat EP that will no doubt leave you gasping for more. With three killer originals and two first-class remixes on the menu, the musical craftsman and his guests deliver a rally of transcendent dancefloor moments exploring the true power behind tension and release.

The inaugural ‘Gazza’ – made in memoriam of the talented selector and Adam’s late friend Alex T – is a murky, cunning opening containing a rumbling bassline that plumes outwards like the smog over a late-night crowd. ‘Solar Wave’ provides a trippy fusion of acid and euphoria, cresting and diving with an irresistible peak-time groove. On the titular ‘Element X’, the pace slows right down to a nonchalant meander, taking delicate melodies and slinging them above a surly-faced beat.

Moving onto the remixes, DJ Central dismantles the exultations of ‘Solar Wave’ and revises it into a techy, taut number with a new magnetic drive. Priori’s final offering is delightfully subversive to Adam’s sound; his take on ‘Element X’ is both pensive and anthemic, with a keen sense of space and the sort of epic mood that could easily crown a culminating set.

All in all, no nonsense goodness from Adam and his team. We couldn’t think of any other way to celebrate this milestone. Indeed, the night is always darkest before dawn.

Sometimes life is good, sometimes each and eveyone of us faces difficult times & all the inbetween up & downs - yet sometimes it's simply OK. However, one thing is for sure: We strongly believe this EP is more than just OK. On Yore's 31st release, Label-Owner Andy Vaz delivers straight from the backyards of his Cologne based Deutztroit Studios to the streets of Detroit, collaborating with Niko Marks (Detroit based keyboardist, singer, and producer) on the A1 Track: 'Love you Forever": a warm, deep and soulful House anthem with a perfect dancefloor friendly summer Vibe. Something to sure get the groove on and force you to get into your party gear. A2. Features a Remix of Andy Vaz Classic House Hit: 'Hurry, Hurry' from his Yore-012 release, by Malik Alston. Malik is a lifelong Detroiter, as well as both a musician and a performer. He has appeared as a featured vocalist with gospel and R&B artist Ortheia Barnes. His poetry and music performances have been featured with the poetry troupe EmRuop and in concert with the Last Poets, Gil Scott-Heron and Jessica Care Moore. Malik received a nomination as 2005 Outstanding Electronic/Dance Writer Producer of the Year at the Detroit Music Awards. He continues to collaborate with many artists, including Alton Miller, Amp Fiddler, brownstudy, Roy Davis, Jr., Doc Link, John Arnold, Recloose, Javontte, Jerry the Cat, Jabril Sun, Szymanski, Keith Worthy, Dwayne Jensen and here now with his 'Let the Horn Play Mix' of Hurry, Hurry, remixing Andy Vaz. Resulting in a Jazzy, ic and driving House tune, which clearly demonstrates his outstanding musical skillz. On 'Worst Fantasies' on B1 the moods shifts drastically. A very trippy,

Self Defence returns in full effect with New Yorks one and only DJ Duke's (of Sex Trax / Power Music Fame) "Summer Madness EP". Dj Duke had retired from the music front for a while, after he had about 300 records emerged after his "Blow Your Whistle" blew up in 1993 and during the past few years.

With this first release on DEMO TEST, his fresh off the press new label, Roy Vision reinforces his penchant for the musical trends proper to the English Culture.

The EP « Le Point 16 » follows the logical evolution of the leading 90’s genres in the UK spectrum of electronic music, influenced by ethereal melodic chords and raw rhythms, and confirms that House and Jungle are not that distant from each other.

Title of the EP is influenced by auto racing, more specifically the 24 hours of Le Mans, this legendary car race that Roy Vision’s father won exactly 40 years ago.

Underground garage music from U.K artists, Highrise & label boss Marc Cotterell

MCLTD is pleased to present the second edits reference for this year 2020. Quattrophobia and Fiore della passione are tracks from the past based on timeless sounds and its dancefloor oriented energy .

Ideal for learned clubbing ears

Four names you never heard of step up with four tracks that will smack you right in the kisser.

For DSD021 we welcome Australia’s DJ Life with his high energy, Hypersonic EP. This EP provides it all, from pumping tech house to 90’s inspired trance, it’s got all those peak time moments covered. On the flip side we welcome Adam Pits and Ciel, both providing 2 killer remixes.

Every odd number has an ‘E’ in it…

Chat Noir Tools continues its exploration of the new electronic scene with this second release which showase four tracks from the young producer Occibel. He delivers here 4 uncompromising tracks designed for the dancefloor. Juggling between house, breakbeat and Tech-house inspirations, he is part of this generation that frees itself from genres to better appropriate them. Throughout the 4 tracks of the EP, Occibel oscillates between atmospheres and sounds to offer a coherent and effective whole. An EP made for the dancefloor in all occasions.

Newcomer Magic Carpet sets off despite travel restrictions with a versatile EP from Berlin based producer Phyzikal Flex.

The four track release is a voyage through the history of dancefloor music, drawing influences from UK Rave, Jungle and early Detroit Techno. Phyzikal Flex navigates lush sonic textures, poignant basslines and warm, organic breakbeats with ease, all whilst channelling nostalgic flashbacks of the second summer of love.

Just short of their milestone tenth release, Haŵs pulls up the inimitable DJ Chupacabra (and alias of Davide Piras) for his debut. ‘Yard Club’ takes the intimacy of hazy, expectant dancefloors and transfers it into four subtle shades that demonstrate the understated power of the warmup track – or the after-hours wind-down.

Lounging gently into focus, the A-side’s ‘Chandone’ is a poised house number with bobbing synths and a retro acid feel. ‘Turbo’ continues on this tip, except this time there’s more syncopations, tight kicks and a husky vocal sample; each one is an ideal candidate for those hushed, meditative moments in a club or saluting the new sunrise.

‘Modem’ from the B-side is classically playful Chupacabra, coupling a phone dial tone with a UKG stride and wacky, shuffling textures. To close, ‘Drip’ turns its head towards a feeling of glitched nostalgia and pallid colours, oozing out dreamy piano chords against a backdrop of sliced percussion.

It’s a neat pool of stripped-back UKG and house that brings up the same delicious sensations of a rollercoaster slowly approaching its descent or recovering from its fall. Where these tools get put into practice is totally up to imagination.

Lavonz is back on Dansu Discs. After his track on the latest Club Culture, one of the newest members of the Dansu Discs family returns with this 6 track EP packed with classic reissues and new material. In what Lavonz describes as his ‘return’ to the scene, with this ‘Uncut Gems’ EP he brings the distinctive sound that made him such a reputable player so many years.

Herb LF’s legacy in the garage scene is immense. With his work retaining class and style over more than twenty years. He returns to this integral spirit and provides ‘International Extraterrestrial Music’ with their debut record - a two-part dancefloor orientated EP. On the A-side, Helicopter money slips and pulses between powerful pads and expertly crafted drum patterns, commanding instinctive movements in a club. On the flip, Payday provides a concoction of nostalgia and forward-thinking garage spirit, a result that is suitable for any rascal to dance it out both in the club or sat on the sofa

Wilfy D returns for another solo release on the Vitamin D imprint. After the success of his debut release VITD001 Wilfy D returns to showcase a different side to his production. As usual expect no nonsense vocal driven UK Garage cuts, this time on a strong club ready housey tip. This release leans more to the 4 to the floor sound with a slinky smooth 2 Step belter on the B. Essential cop!

Can You Smell What The Sock Is Cooking?!

Sock It To Me steps up with their first release. Three club-focussed collaborations from Alec Falconer & Desert Sound Colony with a Harry Wills remix.

PUNCHLINE01 sees a group of heavy-hitters sneaking into the backdoor of Ba Dum Tish – a newly-opened local comedy club – to try out some fresh material under some brand new aliases.

He left his bank card on your coffee table; strong booze and fine flake from the mysterious C Bosher.

‘Soy Piccolo’ is the firecracker debut EP from Sydney DJ/producer Unpin. Comprised of 6 high-energy dancefloor bombs, the EP traverses a broad range of sounds through acid-house, electro and experimental club cuts.

On this release, Unpin’s work is heavy on breaks and 303’s, balanced by a subtle pop sensibility with precision-picked vocal cuts tying the release together. All killer, no filler, the release is a gritty, yet confident body of work from one of Sydney’s most promising rising stars.

This is the debut release from Sydney imprint and party collective Velodrome. Released digitally in mid-March, the record has garnered attention online including blog coverage on Resident Advisor, Purple Sneakers and Colors Studios. The two singles from the record have also received consistent airplay on two of Australia’s largest independent radio stations, Triple J and FBi.

MF001 marks the introduction of UK artist / producer Max Frith. Having made music since his early teens and now in his early twenties, this 10,000 hours honing in on self-education and exploration has resulted in a keen ability to be meticulous in his output. ‘Fade’ is an almost suppressed UKG, chord progressions running in the opposite direction of is elder cousin’s dancefloor swagger, right out the door and on the night bus home. Slipstream works to exemplify the attention to detail Max has managed to work into his productions, successfully unifying anxious percussion carried with cloud-like ambience.

Fade / Slipstream is release #1 of three incoming 12”s that will put the breadth of proficiency on display of the newcomer. Right now in 2020 the talent and ambition of Max Firth is exactly what we need, thankfully choosing not to heed the advice of the UK government and re-train to work in ‘cyber’.

One track taken from Lush Grooves Volume One remastered and another that was meant to be on that original EP but got missed out, so unreleased since 1997. Written and Produced by Paul French who also released on Confetti Records

Distance feels ingrained in how we all navigate the world at the moment, we’re hoping to bring you a little closer together with iota’s new release on Pure Space. It feels like exactly what we’ve been craving; a moment of calm, rhythms to soothe, sit back and get carried away to.

Having self-released a number of EP’s in the past year iota has pricked up the ears of the Australian music community with his take on minimal tek, electro and acid. His debut release on Pure Space delivers three original tracks spanning the breadth of minimal club music. Accompanying the release are two remixes, one from Melbourne's famed lizard Reptant and another from IDM producer DBR.

On the A-side iota kicks it off with ‘Terminus’, here deep under a tight electro beat lurks a staunch bassline intertwined with playful pads and soft acid-like tones. It’s a textural and delicately refined track, with each sound finding its perfect place within the piece. Up next is ‘Cloudtek’; where gentle percussion dances softly on a bed of textured sampling that truly takes the edge off the stomping 4/4 beat..

Flipping to the B-side you will find ‘Noxi’, a lurking, moody atmospheric track. Curious psy-inspired samples follow you through the piece and a continual shift in the percussion builds tension and a sense of movement to ensue.

Complementing the release Melbourne’s Reptant puts a deeper electro-acid take on ‘Terminus’. His Lizard-Tech mix plays up the acid elements of the original and sits on the darker end of the scale. The acid drones demand attention and the new baseline brings the beat to the forefront of your mind.

Tracks for the rave, direct from Japan.

Stones Taro joins the BAM roster with four heaters designed to demolish the dance floor. Taking inspiration from UKG, jungle, breaks and house, this release brings the quintessential sounds of rave culture into 2020, showcasing the Kyoto- based producer’s ability to regenerate the genres that define UK clubland.

Lovingly delivered by the crew at YAM Records.

When Torbjörn Brange aka Rhythm In Progress released his first EP in 1996 he called it "Dangerous Vol. 2" for fun and confusion. 23 years later the follow-up record "Dangerous Vol. 1" comes up with four original tracks produced around 1995 – 1997 and rescued from dusty DATs straight out of Torbjörn's basement in Malmö. The tracks have the same Rhythm In Progress trademark sound that made his first release pretty sought after amongst record diggers: Fat drums, sharp hihats combined with a relaxed and refreshing approach to his very own vision of NY & NJ House!