Поиск:off!

Claremont 56 founder Paul ‘Mudd’ Murphy has been in a rich vein of creative form of late. Having released his first solo album in 18 years in 2024, the effervescent and picture-perfect 'In The Garden of Mindfulness', Murphy is well on his way to finishing solo LP number three – a set you’ll be able to hear in full later in 2025. To get us in the mood, he’s offering up a two-track taster featuring instrumental takes on cuts that will appear as full-vocal songs on the final album. Both were written with, and feature instrumentation by, regular collaborator Michele Chiavarini, an Italian musician, producer, composer, and arranger who has long been part of the Claremont 56 family.

Up first is ‘Mahalo (12" Instrumental Mix)’, a languid and emotion-rich groover built around a smooth, mid-tempo jazz-funk-goes-disco groove – think crispy drums, delay-laden hand percussion and rubbery bass guitar – and all manner of ear-catching musical details. As the track unfolds, you can expect to hear lilting strings, warming electric piano chords, mazy synth solos, heady horn-style blasts and glistening, eyes-closed guitar licks. It’s a genuinely superb slab of musically rich dancefloor warmth. The track that follows, ‘Mata Ne’, is an altogether dreamier and more dub-influenced affair. Featuring some sublime piano playing from Chiavarini, it sees Murphy layer simmering strings, cascading guitar licks, spacey synths and blissed-out melodic motifs atop the kind of chunky, dubby groove that has long been one of his aural trademarks. Offering positivity and melancholia in equal measure, ‘Mata Ne’ is Mudd at his most musically majestic. His forthcoming album will be worth waiting for.

We are excited to announce our 13th edition, which you can offer for pre-order until it is ready for shipping, expected on June 1st.

Lela Amparo's debut album for Past Inside The Present is a smooth fusion of ambient guitar, IDM, trip-hop rhythms, orchestral arrangements and poetic vocals that draw from her American Southwest roots, international travels, and life in Gothenburg, Sweden. Amparo crafts a raw, worldly sound from these inspirations and mixes cinematic grandeur with tender grace, gorgeous melodies and head-nodding drum programming. Highlights include 'Space Us Out' with its emotional beat and piano loop, and 'You Say You Love' which combines harp and choral voices. 'Rose & Honey' reflects on isolation in Tokyo, while 'Wrong Thing' offers a Burial-style rhythm. Keep Your Soul Young is all about finding home within yourself.

Wade Watts and Sir Rizio have previously only released on Lempuyang's digital arm, but now step up to the full label with this standout new EP. They hail from the suburbs of Jo'burg which is where they have cooked up these seriously flavoursome and stripped-back sounds. 'Atlas' kicks off with rolling drums and widescreen dub chords that sink you into a warm world of fluid groove. 'Limitless Progression' keeps the depths coming with rattling and classic dub hits and smoky pads, while an EmmaSoul dub mix on the flip heads into heady territory and 'Innermost Existence' brings some wisps of melodic light to the fore.

Funkyjaws Music kicks off a new series here with a focus on hefty disco jams. Bodgan RA is first up to flex his muscle with 'Taboo' which is full of bright synth lines and gorgeous vocal harmonies best to some lush guitar riffs. 'Buffalo' then brings some old-school energy with chopped-up beats and scratching that eventually unravel into a feel-good 80s disco sound. The joyous vibes flow on freely through 'La Battaglia' with its cosmic guitar leads, horns and raw claps then 'Detective' shuts down with the most steamy cut of the lot complete with brilliant funky undertones and expressive synth solos.

Cosmin TRG is a Romanian producer who crafted some of the underground's most innovative sounds a decade or so ago, before going off to work in other creative worlds. Here, for the first time, he links with countryman DYL for a special EP that is decidedly futuristic. 'Manevre' is Romanian for 'manoeuvres' and comes in three different parts. Each one is fluid minimal sound with deft rhythms, fizzing pads, eerie melodies, sub-aquatic motifs and always absorbing atmospheres. Tammo Hesselink also adds a remix that has more prominent drums, lurching loops and menacing dystopian energy.

20/20 Vision marks its 30th anniversary with another great release here in the form of some remixes of Crazy P's iconic single 'Stop Space Return'. The late Danielle Moore's unmistakable vocals shine across two stellar reworks from Colleen 'Cosmo' Murphy who infuses her cosmic, acid-laced disco energy into the track. Her Cosmodelica Remix and Dub version blend trippy 303s, cowbells and deep grooves into something suitably fresh. Also included are two classic Unabombers mixes from 2009, and they offer raw house heat and dubbed-out psychedelia that serves as a fine floor-focused reinterpretation of a beloved anthem.

From the mind of Philadelphia legend Del Jones, the jazz-funk musician and social justice activist behind Positive Vibes and The Court Is Closed, comes a cult favorite finally getting its due. Originally released on CD in 1999, Dance of 'De Elder is a late-career epic where Jones' unmistakable vocals and undeniable funk deliver his signature blend of history, justice and Afrocentrism to reinforce his timeless command: 'DANCE // RESPECT YOURSELF.’

This 12-inch marks the track’s debut on wax and features five remixes for today’s dancefloors. Lil Dave lifts the song into an uptempo, deep and soulful house jam, Pheels flips the vocals over a heavy, psychedelic and percussive dub, Sweater adds bright, crescending synths that revive Jones’ chorus as a joyful decree, Universal Cave offer an extended, dubbed out, late night acid excursion, and Street Orchestra dials in a knocking MPC beat mix that could have fit right at home on the original release.

When we found a copy of the Dance Of ‘De Elder CD, the title track quickly became a Universal Cave crew anthem that we played every chance we got. Early doors, end of night, looped over party tracks, we couldn’t get enough of it and knew it had to get out to a wider audience. We hope this release helps get Jones’ music and message out to DJs and dancers worldwide.

Label heads Make A Dance return with the 13th installment on their acclaimed imprint, M.A.D. RECORDS

Leading the charge is the long-requested ID, 'Young Man' — a rolling, deep, and driving house cut, layered with a hauntingly soulful blues vocal – a track that confidently carves its own lane in a crowded field.

On the B-side, 'Club Dub 909' offers a more direct and energetic take, punctuated by bursts of their signature dub siren — a nod to the duo’s unmistakable style.

Rounding out the EP is 'Down', a sleazy, heads-down affair that’s been igniting dance floors every time it’s dropped in their sets.

Trust in 6 was a one-off project by Torsten Stenzel, produced in collaboration with André Fischer (Recall IV, Technoline, Scope) and Lars Janzik (Scrot). Their sole release, “Life in Ecstasy”, came out in 1991 on Techno Drome International, a sub-label of ZYX Records, and earned a spot on the first volume of the legendary Techno Trax compilation series. The track fuses techno and EBM with a dark, driving energy-layering classic trance arpeggios, eerie pizzicato samples, and haunting, hypnotic vocals into a standout piece of early '90s electronic music.


Limited edition of 300 copies on black vinyl and 200 copies on clear vinyl, including both original mixes, the renowned Digital Mix (also known as Razormaid Mix), and a radio edit.


MEMBERS ONLY is back with more freaked out weirdo edits to excite your night. As lo-fi as ever, volume 7 of the series leans hard into disco territory with 3 heavily chopped tracks harkening back to RON HARDY's legendary tape edits at THE MUSIC BOX. For those who know.

Motel d'amour - A Lost Electro-Funk Gem from the NDW Era Resurfaces

When we first collaborated with Collage member Markus Kammann on the EP project "Mit den Puppen tanzen" at the end of last year, we never imagined what would follow: Kammann approached us with a completely unreleased full-length album by his former band. Upon receiving the first three preview tracks, we were floored. One of them was "Nachtcafé" - a track that kicks off with a funky bassline layered over the punchy rhythm of a Roland TR-808. Add shimmering synths and Katrin A. Kunze's sharp, distinctive vocals, and we instantly knew we were hearing something special.

For a label dedicated to rediscovering lost treasures, this was exactly what we'd been searching for. The next two tracks - "Rendezvous" and "Casanova" - were just as compelling. When Kammann sent us the full album, we realized we were holding an electro-funk grail from the late golden days of the German Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW). We were listening to "Motel d'amour".

"Motel d'amour" is a concept album, offering a sharp, vibrant perspective from a confident, intelligent, and radiant young woman eager to experience nightlife, love, and music. Kunze's lyrics paint vivid scenes of flirtation ("Nachtcafé", "Rendezvous"), encounters with men ("Casanova"), the pulse of nightlife ("Die Nacht ist noch jung"), love ("Rotes Licht für rote Liebe"), one-night stands ("Motel d'amour"), and more. Rarely has a German album from that era captured emotional nuance and social dynamics so insightfully. Without veering into the overly personal, Kunze's direct, daring lyrical style was groundbreaking at the time - and remains refreshingly bold today.

While German listeners will fully appreciate the lyrical depth, the music speaks volumes on its own. Kunze's words are masterfully complemented by the production of Markus Kammann and Jürgen Grah. As heard on the in-demand "Mit den Puppen tanzen", their creativity seemed boundless. Each track is tightly composed, catchy, and full of character. While many German bands at the time leaned into rock, Kammann drew from the deep grooves of Earth, Wind & Fire, The Isley Brothers, Brothers Johnson, The Commodores, and the electro-futurism of Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock" and "Looking for the Perfect Beat". The result: tracks with unmistakable electro-funk flair, powered by the classic 808 drum sound.

Though primarily rooted in funk and electro, the album retains flashes of NDW aesthetics - "Wir haben getanzt heut' Nacht" being a prime example. The instrumentation is a dream list for vintage gear lovers: Yamaha keyboards, Roland Juno-60, vocoder, Micromoog, Hohner D6 Clavinet, Fender bass, and a Telecaster guitar all feature prominently.
Recorded in 1985 at the high-profile Delta Studio by Richard Rossbach, the album attracted interest from Polydor. However, the label proposed using the compositions for a solo project with singer Inga Humpe (of Neonbabies), who was already signed to their roster. This would have required replacing Kunze as the vocalist, an idea the group firmly rejected. As a result, "Motel d'amour" was shelved, and Kammann, Grah, and Kunze moved on to form Cold End.
The album cover features a rare archival photo of Katrin A. Kunze - rediscovered by Kammann and now finally seeing the light of day, 40 years later.

We believe Motel d'amour deserves recognition alongside cult German classics like P!OFF?, 1. Futurologischer Congress' "Wer spricht?", Ami Marie's "Verrückt nach Glück", the funkier cuts of Cosa Rosa, or Piet Klocke's groove classic "Heute ist nicht sonst". It's a record that fits into adventurous DJ sets but also rewards a full, start-to-finish listen.

A note on audio quality: Sadly, the original master tapes were lost. The tracks were restored from a vintage TDK cassette. Thanks to modern digital tools, we were able to remaster them to a high standard - but in some songs light distortions remain. We appreciate your understanding and hope you enjoy this lost and undiscovered gem.

Motel d'amour - A Lost Electro-Funk Gem from the NDW Era Resurfaces

When we first collaborated with Collage member Markus Kammann on the EP project "Mit den Puppen tanzen" at the end of last year, we never imagined what would follow: Kammann approached us with a completely unreleased full-length album by his former band. Upon receiving the first three preview tracks, we were floored. One of them was "Nachtcafé" - a track that kicks off with a funky bassline layered over the punchy rhythm of a Roland TR-808. Add shimmering synths and Katrin A. Kunze's sharp, distinctive vocals, and we instantly knew we were hearing something special.

For a label dedicated to rediscovering lost treasures, this was exactly what we'd been searching for. The next two tracks - "Rendezvous" and "Casanova" - were just as compelling. When Kammann sent us the full album, we realized we were holding an electro-funk grail from the late golden days of the German Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW). We were listening to "Motel d'amour".

"Motel d'amour" is a concept album, offering a sharp, vibrant perspective from a confident, intelligent, and radiant young woman eager to experience nightlife, love, and music. Kunze's lyrics paint vivid scenes of flirtation ("Nachtcafé", "Rendezvous"), encounters with men ("Casanova"), the pulse of nightlife ("Die Nacht ist noch jung"), love ("Rotes Licht für rote Liebe"), one-night stands ("Motel d'amour"), and more. Rarely has a German album from that era captured emotional nuance and social dynamics so insightfully. Without veering into the overly personal, Kunze's direct, daring lyrical style was groundbreaking at the time - and remains refreshingly bold today.

While German listeners will fully appreciate the lyrical depth, the music speaks volumes on its own. Kunze's words are masterfully complemented by the production of Markus Kammann and Jürgen Grah. As heard on the in-demand "Mit den Puppen tanzen", their creativity seemed boundless. Each track is tightly composed, catchy, and full of character. While many German bands at the time leaned into rock, Kammann drew from the deep grooves of Earth, Wind & Fire, The Isley Brothers, Brothers Johnson, The Commodores, and the electro-futurism of Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock" and "Looking for the Perfect Beat". The result: tracks with unmistakable electro-funk flair, powered by the classic 808 drum sound.

Though primarily rooted in funk and electro, the album retains flashes of NDW aesthetics - "Wir haben getanzt heut' Nacht" being a prime example. The instrumentation is a dream list for vintage gear lovers: Yamaha keyboards, Roland Juno-60, vocoder, Micromoog, Hohner D6 Clavinet, Fender bass, and a Telecaster guitar all feature prominently.
Recorded in 1985 at the high-profile Delta Studio by Richard Rossbach, the album attracted interest from Polydor. However, the label proposed using the compositions for a solo project with singer Inga Humpe (of Neonbabies), who was already signed to their roster. This would have required replacing Kunze as the vocalist, an idea the group firmly rejected. As a result, "Motel d'amour" was shelved, and Kammann, Grah, and Kunze moved on to form Cold End.
The album cover features a rare archival photo of Katrin A. Kunze - rediscovered by Kammann and now finally seeing the light of day, 40 years later.

We believe Motel d'amour deserves recognition alongside cult German classics like P!OFF?, 1. Futurologischer Congress' "Wer spricht?", Ami Marie's "Verrückt nach Glück", the funkier cuts of Cosa Rosa, or Piet Klocke's groove classic "Heute ist nicht sonst". It's a record that fits into adventurous DJ sets but also rewards a full, start-to-finish listen.

A note on audio quality: Sadly, the original master tapes were lost. The tracks were restored from a vintage TDK cassette. Thanks to modern digital tools, we were able to remaster them to a high standard - but in some songs light distortions remain. We appreciate your understanding and hope you enjoy this lost and undiscovered gem.

Emotional Rescue completes the series of non-defined reissues where the label licenses an all-time favourite, remasters and then reappraised with new interpretations by contemporary producers for today’s collectors.

After the series started back in 2019 with Hawkwind’s sprawling psychedelic electronics, featuring deep drone mixes by the esteemed digger Cherrystones (ERC074), the bouncing cosmic-Balearics of Thomas Leer with wonderful reworkings by friend and producer Bullion (ERC075) and then the post punk dubs of The Embrace and Timothy J Faiplay’s brooding italo-dub excursions (ERC076), there was always one artist and producer left out. Finally, then the percussive excursion of the early 80s band The Impossible Dreamers and their cult B side jam, Spin, coming with 9 minutes percussion-dub extravaganza of an extended reversion, plus a dub heavy reprise, by label go-to Dan Tyler (Idjut Boys /Noid), under his NAD moniker.

Started by a group of friends while at Exeter University that centered around Caroline Radcliffe, James Hood, Justin Adams and Nick Waterhouse, their debut 12” record is one of just three on the 100 Things To Do label. The other two releases have already been covered with the Hamburger All Stars ‘Swinging London’ 12” (ERC114) of 2022.

Recorded before the move to West London, ‘Life On Earth’ was a raw post punk vocal pop cut, with influences of dub, funk, hip-hop and African music shining through, there were in their own words, “young music fans starting out, with no agenda”.

However, it was on the B side that things got interesting. Enamored by the growing trend of extended 12” singles, they decided, with the A side wrapped up, to have some studio experimentation by recording a drumming jam, with all the members playing percussion, followed by some overdubbing. Memories are hazy, but at the time the band was an 8-piece, so the results a chaotic explosion, capturing the essence of that time. Featuring Nick and James on 4 hand piano, plus Caroline on Oboe, with some additional hollering and wooping vocals, Spin was a 5-minute burst of energy.

In effect, self-released in 1982, the band didn’t expect much to come of it, but the 12” acted as a calling card leading them to London and later signing for RCA. At the same time, Spin was being discovered in the early eighties alternative club world. On a trip to New York, the track was heard being played Downtown, and on enquiring it was discovered the DJ was playing a 7” that was never an official release but cut in the US solely for the club DJs there.

Its resonance extended further, to Italy and the Cosmic club of the resident, an ever-searching Danielle Baldelli, before being picked up a few years later by a young Andrew Weatherall during his pursuit of an alternative “Balearic” beat during the late eighties Summers of Love and has even recently received the Joe Clausell edit treatment back again in NYC.

For the remake to fit the label series, it was only right to ask label friend Dan Tyler to do what he does so well, putting the original through his array of dub machines and pedals, extending and cutting with aplomb to create an incendiary ‘Reversion’ that will send dancefloors literally in a spin. Teasing the percussion incandescent, looping and teasing, the piano held back before finally releasing in a haze of dub effects.

This is followed by the ‘Riddim Reprise’. Working with London based drummer Matt Bruce (Claptrap), this is the perfect DJ tool, taking the original idea of the band, to just jam see what happens, twisting it full of space echo and reverb, to offer a perfect 12” Extended Mix.

Side A is home to “Dusk”: A soulful techno track that fits the criteria for multiple dance floors and at home listening. Dusk’s melodic content, tight percussion, and creeping film-like pads ensures its place as a future classic meeting that sweet spot between house and techno. Side B features “Undying Prophecy” by Keeno18. Again with a deeper vibe, the Tampa based artist continues the spirit of “Dusk” in its own unique way. The track begins with an eerie yet introspective pad arrangement before switching up into funky off-kilter sound design on the synths. Rolling hi hats and reverberated vocal chops complete the track leaving the listener with a unique atmospheric sonic experience.

LN000 presents three electro tools rooted in the essence of the D. “Black Elements”, the title track, is a hypnotic journey crafted for DJ and cruising use. The looping pads and percussive bassline entrance the listener as the bed of 808 beats keep the dancefloor busy. On the B-side, “KAH” offers an exploration in the realm of electro funk. Neck snapping snares, thunderous kicks, a tweaked out bassline, and heavy breakdowns can be found in this track; this one is for the dancers. “2 Motor” closes out the EP with an energetic electro excursion. Tight beats, an anthemic lead, crashing cymbals, a dope bassline, and some funky sound design drive this track.

Chicago DJ/producer SEAN SMITH brings 3 classic dance floor weapons. The A-side contains an edit of disco funk classic "DANCE ON THE FUNK" alongside a dub version, while the B-side offers an edit of 90's jazz house track "GOOD BEAT." Proper weapons for today's dance floors. White label 12" in paper sleeve

“Electric Park” by Mathias is a five-track tech-house project that blends history, whimsy, and Detroit’s rich musical legacy. Inspired by the vibrant past of Electric Park, an iconic Detroit amusement park, the music captures the joyful energy of rides and attractions while offering a modern sonic twist. Upbeat and whimsical, the tracks reflect the birthplace of Techno and celebrate the city’s innovative spirit. Mathias invites listeners to both revel in the present and connect to the past through pulsating beats and playful rhythms, highlighting how music bridges history and culture in meaningful, electrifying ways.

Rigby On The Run drops Rug Rally on Vienna's Studio Bahöö, blending UKG grooves, grainy breakbeat, and off-grid soundsystem experimentation. Built on instinct and late-night energy, the tracks lurch, glide, and hum with low-end pressure and emotional weight. No face, no origin story-just raw motion and mood.

Pioneering British electronic musician Mark Van Hoen is set to release his latest solo album, The Eternal Present, on 23 May 2025 via Dell'Orso, a remarkable collection of tracks spanning nearly three decades of recordings from 1998 to 2024.
The Eternal Present embodies its philosophical title, inspired by Joseph Campbell's concept that "Eternity isn't some later time... Eternity is that dimension of here and now that all thinking in temporal terms cuts off." The album explores music as the ultimate expression of existing in the present moment, transcending time and creating a sonic experience that is simultaneously "spectral, ghostly, melodic, harmonic, and decayed."
An influential contemporary of Aphex Twin, Autechre, LFO and Boards of Canada, Van Hoen is best known for his solo work as Locust in the mid-'90s, which helped push post-rave electronic music into newly challenging realms. His extensive discography spans releases on influential labels including R&S, Touch, and Editions Mego. Van Hoen has worked on numerous collaborations throughout his career, including with Nick Holton and Neil Halstead of Slowdive under the moniker Black Hearted Brother—their album Stars Are Our Home was released in 2013.
The Eternal Present continues the lineage of Van Hoen's most significant works, with artwork by Ian Anderson (Designers Republic) reflecting the album's "eternal present" concept with a mysterious visual approach, allowing listeners to form their own imaginary landscapes. The mastering by Stefan Betke (Pole) enhances this document of the evolution of the artist over the years as he continues to hone his signature sound. Using a host of instruments including analogue synthesisers and employing various recording approaches, Van Hoen's equipment changed dramatically over the years—from early DSP processing used on his first solo record on Apollo ‘Playing With Time’ to various synthesisers, modular systems, tape machines, and digital workstations—contributing to the album's rich sonic diversity.
Throughout The Eternal Present, ideas are woven together through spoken word quotations and abstract vocals featuring notable collaborations from Rachel Goswell on the Slowdive cover "Shine" (from 1998), Megan Mitchell (Cruel Diagonals) on "Somewhere", and session vocalists Clare Dove and Dorothy Takev on "No-One Leave" and "It's Not You (In A Way)" respectively. The use of cleverly assembled vocal samples from an "undisclosed but very famous female vocalist" on "Multiplex" (2016) and the indistinct vocalisations on the Cabaret Voltaire-influenced "Only Me" (2017), constantly challenges and disorientates the listener through fluctuating, ever-changing musical elements.
The album was recorded across multiple locations including Somerset, London, Los Angeles, and New York—even beginning compositions during flights and in airport lounges—reflecting Van Hoen's changing personal circumstances, environments, and situations throughout the years.
Of Indian-Jamaican descent, Van Hoen was born and raised in England, absorbing diverse musical influences from his neighbors—African-Jamaican on one side and Punjabi Indian on the other. "Each family played their own music frequently, and I absorbed it." His musical foundations include Brian Eno, Kraftwerk, OMD, Tangerine Dream, Japan, Cabaret Voltaire, and Cocteau Twins, later finding inspiration in My Bloody Valentine, LFO, and '90s producers Robert Leiner and CJ Bolland.
These eclectic influences are evident on The Eternal Present, which contains snapshots of different periods in his life, with changing circumstances across decades creating a variety of textures and sounds. As Mark explains: "It holds the same sonic signature as many of my solo releases and early Locust albums. It's a natural development that has taken place in the last few decades. It's even related to the earliest music I made as a teenager, although perhaps more sophisticated."
“What a remarkably affecting, majestically broad and captivating work it is..what strikes you most is the album’s myriad diversity. Outstanding” (Electronic Sound)

“Whether channelling mid- 70’s Eno, early Aphex Twin or Neu! his vivid sounds shimmer with emotional weight” (Mojo 4*)

"Musically, Van Hoen belongs to a distinguished family tree. Originally influenced by the likes of Brian Eno and Tangerine Dream, and later presaging both Autechre's glitch and Boards of Canada's pastoral IDM." (Pitchfork)

A1 - Sequence Array
Exquisitely filtered breaks open Sequence Array as Aural Imbalance opens the EP with a glorious intro capped off with a tight 808 bassline solo before the dependable, rapturous crunch of amens thrash their way into the mix. Programmed with dextrous skill allowing the crisp subtleties of the breaks to breathe among the layers upon layers of floral ambience, this one is an amen journey to remember.

A2 - In Formation
A more understated affair takes the stage as In Formation is introduced by airy pads and light DJ-friendly filtered breaks in the backdrop before a punchy yet delicate break pattern - high on the juddering snares and low on the kicks - ushers us along through plinky melodies and mood-elevating synthwork, completing a journey of reflective solitude from the master of ambient atmospherics.

AA1 - Voices From Neptune
Light keys and excitable, shimmering waves of ambience kick off the elegantly composed Voices from Neptune, setting a sumptuous tone before the uniquely constructed breakbeats commence. Kicks and energetic hi hats & snares are soon joined with a light Hot Pants break, crisp and complimentary in the mix as low pass melodies bask in the soothing swathes of exquisite synthwork.

AA2 - Decoded Message
Closing out the EP, Aural Imbalance sets free his Decoded Message, opening with a quietly suspense-fuelled intro flecked with light hi hats before a yearning, mournful melody intersects with a tapestry of ambient pads and effects. Swirling with an array of subtle jangling melodies to form a kaleidoscope of spine-tingling mood music, the compositions capped-off with old-school breakbeats riddled with analogue charm and earthy bass.

Words by Chris Hayes (Spatial / Red Mist)

A1 - Symbiotic Link
Kicking off another stellar, varied EP, ASC opens Symbiotic Link with an eerie introduction telling of a tense interaction between orcas in open waters before a thunderous break with immensely sharp venom-fueled snares often used by the likes of Photek back in the day aggressively seizes the attention, jolting and stabbing as the juddering bassline rumbles below - as synthy melodies provide respite in the mix.

A2 - A Single Emotion
Serving up another raucous, nostalgia-driven treat for any breakbeat fan, ASC channels his old-school mastery with a thoroughly absorbing journey through a variety of breaks, edited, chopped and filtered to perfection with dense, earthy basslines lying beneath. Lifted by a soundscape filled with light horn melodies, echoing vocal hits and washes of pads, you'll experience more than a single emotion here.

AA1 - Whirl
Time for a Hot Pants break serenade through swathes of atmospheric synths as Whirl expands ASC's diverse repertoire further still - an earworm melody at the forefront is provided by the bassline on this occasion - simple yet immensely effective. The bass intertwines with the breaks effortlessly while sci-fi effects and samples whoosh and fall with several tonal changes keeping things fresh till the curtains close.

AA2 - Frontier
A rousing cymbal kicks off a curious, deep introduction punctuated by melodic keys and a simmering undertone of suspense. Chunky old school breaks suddenly enter the mix with a continuous, enveloping bassline as the atmosphere builds steadily via micro melodies, noir vocal samples and delicate bells, as ASC closes another Spatial EP in his inimitable, unpredictable engaging style.

Words by Chris Hayes (Spatial / Red Mist)

Emerging from the Kansai underground with a sense of ritual and restraint, G Version III returns with a slab of meditative pressure, carved for sound systems. Following last year’s cassette release on Digital Sting, the Kyoto-based producer deepens his exploration of experimental steppers and sacred low-end science.

TRK 1 treads heavy—medium-tempo four-to-the-floor steppers, soaked in 80s/90s UK dub DNA and wired with flickers of celestial synth energy, edged with something unknown.

TRK 2 drifts off-grid—a 100bpm oddity conjuring sacred synth rituals and off-beat spatial tension. Droning and eerily weightless, it hangs like a vapor of frozen scent in an echo chamber.

Flip the plate and TRK 3 and 4 ignite—raw, unrelenting steppers built to test the physical limits of the rig. No compromise, no decoration—just ritual voltage for the floor.

Riddim Chango’s 16th release channels something ancient through circuitry, born for the weight.

From his early-’60s days as hip shaker Twistin’ Harvey to his late-’70s nights on the light up dance floor in search of a “Disco Lady,” Harvey Scales survived scrapes with the pop charts, bankrupt record companies, walk outs, sit ins, strikes, price hikes, lay offs, and under table payoffs over a 40 year career. Compiled here for the first time are Scales’ Cuca and Magic Touch recordings, 27 slabs of cracker jack R&B, stomping northern soul, divorce-ridden deep soul, feverish funk, and hustling disco spread across 2 LPs and housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket.. Bill Dahl’s in depth notes document the entire sordid affair, with dozens of period photos and ephemeral bits illustrating the accompanying 20 page book. So necessary.

From his early-’60s days as hip shaker Twistin’ Harvey to his late-’70s nights on the light up dance floor in search of a “Disco Lady,” Harvey Scales survived scrapes with the pop charts, bankrupt record companies, walk outs, sit ins, strikes, price hikes, lay offs, and under table payoffs over a 40 year career. Compiled here for the first time are Scales’ Cuca and Magic Touch recordings, 27 slabs of cracker jack R&B, stomping northern soul, divorce-ridden deep soul, feverish funk, and hustling disco spread across 2 LPs and housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket.. Bill Dahl’s in depth notes document the entire sordid affair, with dozens of period photos and ephemeral bits illustrating the accompanying 20 page book. So necessary.

Supreme Italo boogie 2 sider, a double banger! Two faves from the long out of print “FALL IN THE GROOVE” LP, GIOVANNI DAMICO is officially out of hiding and back in the moonlight with his Chicago label team STAR CREATURE. The A Side gives us a slice of Psychedelic Boogie that is continentally agnostic. The B Side hits us with an Afro-Italo smacker that's already been known to fill dancefloors worldwide! Housed in a replica 7" Jacket and ready for trouble

Legendary artist, Raincoats co-founder, songwriter, filmmaker, and feminist icon Gina Birch has announced her eagerly awaited second solo album, Trouble, arriving via Third Man Records on Friday, July 11. Pre-orders are available now.

Trouble is heralded by today’s premiere of the album’s blistering centerpiece, “Causing Trouble Again,” available for streaming now. An official music video – directed by famed photographer/filmmaker Dean Chalkley and featuring an all-star collective of fellow female artists including Birch’s longtime friend and co-founder of The Raincoats, Ana da Silva, Neo Naturists co-founder Christine Binnie, singer-songwriter Amy Rigby, X-Ray Spex and Essential Logic co-founder Lora Logic, painter Daisy Parris, artist Georgina Starr, writer Jill Westwood, multi-disciplinary artist and activist Bobby Baker, award-winning costume designer Annie Symons, veteran photographer and Raincoats collaborator Shirley O’Loughlin, and many more – is streaming now on YouTube.

“For the ‘Causing Trouble Again’ video, after hearing Bob Dylan sing about a white ladder all covered with water, I became obsessed with white ladders,” Gina Birch says. “ I decided to use five white ladders, three with seven rungs…I realized later that this references Jacob’s Ladder and a connection from Earth to heaven, but I think I was thinking of ladders as a symbol of getting on, getting up. I wanted to have a choreographed movement with four of us with these ladders. How do we move with ladders? Do we move together, do we fight, do we dance? “I also wanted to reference the wind scene from the film, The Colour of Pomegranates, and to include as many artist women from the Women in Revolt exhibition as I could.

Berlin’s ZentaSkai continues his slew of limited-run 200-copy vinyl releases via his Mask Records this July, presenting the ‘JIMMY’ EP, and following up last year’s ‘Bob’ EP and two instalments from his Cuddling Monsters project with Laura Merino Allue.

Across the four tracks on ‘JIMMY’, ZentaSkai delves deep, placing mysterious, foreboding synths over crunchy taped drums and exploring a variety of tempos. Dub influences are rife, its elements echoing across carefully laid-out Techno grooves while minimal shifts subtly build the energy. With ‘JIMMY’, ZentaSkai once again offers a journey through sound already supported by Luke Slater, Blasha & Allatt, Truncate, Elisa Bee, and many more. ZentaSkai (aka No Mad Ronin, Matt Nowak, and MASK) is a German DJ and producer active since 1997. Based out of his studio in Berlin, ZentaSkai runs the Zaijenroots label and, since 2017, the Mask sub-label, which houses his stunning 2023 ‘Architecture of the Mind’ LP as well as his Cuddling Monsters alias - with other credits including a release on Jerome Sydenham’s Ibadan Records and support from the likes of Richie Hawtin, Joseph Capriati, Marcel Dettmann, Luke Slater, Laurant Garnier, DVS1, Ben Sims and Radio Slave.

# 1st official vinyl reissue in over 30 years # sourced from tape # 8 page color bboklet with large-format hotos and full liner notes # band members' stories told at last // Universe was a Welsh rock band formed in the late 1960s, marrying progressive and blues musical elements with a powerful sound. Guitarist Steve Finn, bassist John Healen, and drummer Rob Reynolds formed the nucleus of the band, initially playing under the name Deep Blue Centre, then Spoonfull, rehearsing a set that included covers and originals influenced by acts like Cream, John Mayall, and Jimi Hendrix. By 1970, they had become Universe, the name reflecting the expansive ambition of their evolving music. Universe became known for their stellar live performances, playing countless gigs across Wales and well beyond. They shared stages with acts such as Jethro Tull, Yes, and Graham Bond, while also enduring a character-building but arduous tour of Hamburg and Norway. The constant touring polished their sound and inspired original material such as "Twilight Winter" and "A Woman's Shape." In 1971, the band recorded an album and a single, both self-titled, in Norway; these recordings later became prized finds among collectors. Though Universe's time was brief, their music endures as a fascinating chapter of the underground rock scene in Wales. With Steve Finn's ongoing solo work and the reissue of their recordings, Universe holds a unique place in early '70s rock history.

Das Debütalbum von Leroi Conroy, das zu gleichen Teilen von der Sensibilität des goldenen Hip-Hop-Zeitalters und verlorenen Filmszenen aus den 60er und 70er Jahren geprägt ist, wiegt schwer und hat Jahre der Entwicklung hinter sich. Die ersten beiden Tracks des Albums wurden 2017 als 45er veröffentlicht und in den folgenden Jahren von DJ Premier, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Macklemore, Phantogram und vielen anderen gesampelt. Aber nach der Veröffentlichung verbrachte Terry Cole alias Leroi Conroy einen Großteil seiner Zeit damit, sein Indie-Soul-Label Colemine Records zu vergrößern und Platten für andere zu produzieren (Okonski, Parlor Greens, Wesley Bright, BlackMarket Brass, Kendra Morris, Rudy De Anda, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Andrew Gabbard), anstatt seine eigenen zu machen. Jetzt, acht Jahre nachdem viele der Rhythmustracks auf dem bewährten Tascam 388 aufgenommen wurden, erscheint Leroi Conroys Debüt-LP, "A Tiger's Tale". Das Album ist als hypothetischer Soundtrack zu einer alternativen Erzählung von Rudyard Kiplings The Jungle Book konzipiert. Die Erzählung ist das Bestreben des Menschen, die Natur zu zähmen und sie seinem Willen zu unterwerfen... und die Antwort der Natur. Das Album ist eine Mischung aus triumphalen Instrumentalpartituren und absolut düsteren, dunklen und manchmal dissonanten Moodytracks. Das zugrundeliegende Element der Hip-Hop-Sample-Kultur ist durchweg offensichtlich, und es besteht kein Zweifel, dass viele dieser Tracks in den kommenden Jahren geflippt werden. Klanglich reiht sich die Platte nahtlos in die Reihe vieler anderer Colemine Instrumentalisten ein: dreckige Lo-Fi-Drums, schmetternde Bläser, Wah-Gitarre, Hammond-Orgel und jede Menge cineastische Einsprengsel wie Flöte, Nylongitarre und Vibraphon. Das Schlagzeug stammt von Coles langjährigem Mitarbeiter Rob Houk und ist das Rückgrat des Albums. Und mit einigen Beiträgen der Colemine-Künstler Kelly Finnigan und Jimmy James ist die Platte wirklich eine Familienangelegenheit. File Under: To Be Sampled.

"I Became Birds feels like emo once again flipping the switch on its eternal energy source." - PITCHFORK // "One of the most arresting and interesting rock albums in recent memory." - SPIN // "Composed of self-deprecating wails, crashing guitar riffs, and a flicker of lyrical hope that almost feels naive _ in other words, the perfect foundation for classic emo catharsis." - STEREOGUM //// With I Became Birds, Florida's Home Is Where push their unique blend of whirlwind hardcore aggression and warm, open-hearted folksy melancholy to even further heights. Frontperson Brandon MacDonald's Dylan-esque eccentricities are on full display here, from the occasional blast of harmonica (like on early standout "Long Distance Conjoined Twins" or the disaffected, despondency-soaked closer "The Old Country") to their knack for abstractly evocative neurosis-as-poetry. But far from being a copycat act, Home Is Where's wearily raw-throated aesthetic and dynamically vivid compositions feel idiosyncratic and vital. The bittersweet folk melodies seep deeply into the band's DNA, adding an element of accessibility and immediate nostalgia to otherwise churning and angular song structures and sonic assaults. Vocals range from an intimate, gentle, and disarming croon to a full-bodied expectoration of the soul, oftentimes in the same song (like "Sewn Together from the Membrane of the Great Sea Cucumber," which splits the difference between mournful, gothic post-punk and staccato-heeled screamo with aplomb). A devastating rhythm section and nimble, versatile, yet powerful guitar work assist with the record's genre-bending, which ranges from maniacal chemical mixtures to gymnastic flips, twists, and turns. And yet, even amid the din, Home Is Where find ample time for hooks-- the oddball effervescence of lead single "Scientific Classification of Stingrays" and the shimmering, propulsive, delightfully off-kilter late-album stunner "Assisted Harakiri" are more than proof of that. Ultimately, I Became Birds shows Home Is Where hitting an early high-water mark. A brisk record-- six songs in roughly 17 minutes-- it never takes a dip in enthusiasm and inventiveness. Home Is Where's inexhaustible creativity and restless energy is bound to serve them well, and I Became Birds is all the proof anyone needs.

We got the poison, you need the remedy. Four antidotes plus a vicious underground remix to take the edge off.

The Sorcerers' latest long player lands in perfect time for the summer, offering a further progression into their unique take on Ethio-inspired jazz. Other Worlds and Habitats is, of course, released on ATA Records and is blessed with the analogue recording and painstakingly loving production we have come to expect from this boutique studio. This, The Sorcerers eagerly anticipated fourth LP, follows on from the success of I Too Am A Stranger, a record which garnered praise from BBC Radio 2’s Jamie Cullum, “I love this, this is so good!”, Ethio-jazz legend Mulatu Astatke, “I like the grooves, and it is good to see The Sorcerers interpret Ethio jazz in their own unique way”, and Nightmares on Wax, “This sounds great! Love the way it's recorded”.

Never ones to stop moving forward, and ever vigilant to avoid the realm of pastiche, The Sorcerers see the Ethiopique sound as a building block for their natural progression as a group, but a block that sits at the base of a much larger, ever expanding, structure, The addition of keyboardist Johnny Richards, whose use of the Jen 73 piano, Mellotron and Farfisa Compact Duo, alongside the core members of the group, has opened some exciting doors for The Sorcerers, fusing the future looking optimism of the late 60s and 70s (when artists began to experiment with the new electronic technology and synthesisers becoming more readily available) and more traditional sounds. Taking inspiration from Ethiopian keyboardist Hailu Mergia and Nigerian musician William Onyeabor, Other Worlds and Habitats, as the name suggests, showcases The Sorcerers' shift to a new, and deeply exciting, musical landscape.

The Sorcerers’ Other Worlds and Habitats is a natural progression in the world they have created for themselves. Richer for shared experiences, and accepting the rise of the machines, they prove that while their journey is always going forward, there are many different paths to take.

Nach 6 jähriger Pause ist die Rockband Heisskalt wieder zurück. Dass die Fans das sehnsüchtig erwartet haben, merkt man nicht nur an den
Streamingzahlen, die in 6 Jahren Inaktivität beständig hoch waren, sondern auch an der kürzlichen Ankündigung der ersten Tour, die innerhalb
kürzester Zeit zu großen Teilen ausverkauft war und hochverlegt wurde.
Die Single "Wasser, Luft und Licht", mit der Heisskalt ihr kommendes Album "Vom Tun und Lassen" ankündigen, lässt keine Fragen offen und lädt mit
großem Ohrwurm-Potenzial direkt zum Tanzen ein. Doch wie es typisch ist für die Band, die zu den einflussreichten der letzten 10 Jahre im Deutschen
Band-Markt gehört, steckt dahinter auch eine tiefere Message:
"Es geht um einen Prozess des sich Gewahr werdens, dass alles irgendwie doch eins ist, auch wenn es für uns einfacher scheint, zu trennen und
voneinander zu unterscheiden. Wir atmen alle die selbe Atmosphäre, trinken das selbe Wasser, wärmen uns am selben Licht. Wenn wir uns als Teil
dessen erkennen, dann ist das ganz schön friedlich. Und es braucht Frieden."