Buscar:off beats

Rich NxT helms the next release on the Fuse London label, with his 'What's In The Box' EP, the 3rd solo EP from one of the parties chief residents. This release brings yet more variety to the NxT stall with a classic feel on the A1 track, 'Defy' where he kicks things off with his trademark, crisp beats and razor sharp percussion riding over the dubby low end, then opening out into lush pads and a vocal that never fail to raise the atmosphere, proving popular with people everywhere.

'Mylove' is the release's vinyl only track and is an understated anthem, once again delving deep with brooding bass, paired with drum snatches echoing that of his early jungle days. When the tripped out male vocal and percussion builds into the drop and counter melody, all the elements align in that unique NxT fashion. Over on the flip, 'Twang' has become another firm favourite with audiences, calling again on memories of old school rave combined with a rolling, edgy groove, whilst 'Cannonball' finishes the EP off in fine style with a slab of atmospheric wonder perfect for those early morning sunlit sessions.

Requiem for a dreamstate. It's possibly somewhere between heaven, hell and high water, down the Thames Delta towards Eden. It may involve techno and a distorted state or simply mates sat listening to music together, drifting on the open sea of their minds. This is Jon Hopkins' world, not so much joining the dots as colouring the whole damn picture in.

After releasing his debut album 'Opalescent' at the rookie age of 21 in 1999, he's gone on to work with Brian Eno and David Holmes, produced King Creosote and via Eno, worked on three Coldplay albums. He released the breakthrough album 'Immunity' in 2013, which was nominated for the Mercury Prize.

The story arc with which Hopkins succeeded on 'Immunity' makes its appearance on Late Night Tales too with a perfectly sculpted excursion on this widescreen mix. . Opening with the unreleased 'Sleepers Beat Theme' by composer Ben Lukas Boysen, ghostly pianos skip elegantly hither and thither, among rising strings, as on Darkstar's 'Hold Me Down'. Nils Frahm is here, his sonic palette perfect for the job, while labelmate A Winged Victory For The Sullen contribute 'Requiem For The Static King Part I'. Sigur Ros offshoot Jónsi & Alex's heroic 'Daniell In The Sea' sends us forth towards the Baltic with tears streaming.

Beats occasionally appear, as on the Grace Jones-sampling 'Yr Love' by Holy Other or the pair of Black Country acts Bibio and Letherette, whose 'After Dawn' is almost spry in comparison to the minor key symphonies on display here. The perfect contrast to this comes from Alela Diane's wistful 'Lady Divine' or even Four Tet's mesmerising 'Gillie Amma I Love You', with its enchanting kids' choir. Exclusive to this release, Jon Hopkins provides a startlingly vulnerable new piano version of Yeasayer's 'I Remember'.

Poet and fellow Brian Eno collaborator (their joint album 'Drums Between The Bells' was released by Warp in 2011) Rick Holland narrates the exclusive spoken word closer 'I Remember', underpinned with additional sound design by Hopkins.

"Putting this album together was a unique opportunity for me to present music that I have been listening to for years, free from the constraints of a club setting or from trying to stick to one genre. I chose tracks not just because they have been important to me but because of how they sit together, putting as much thought into the transitions and overall narrative as I did into the track choices. I mixed by key and by texture more than anything else, using original sound design, pivot notes, and often recording new synth or piano parts to link things together in a way that flows as naturally as possible." - Jon Hopkins, December 2014

Since its conception three years ago, the Hamburg based label hafendisko has been patiently building its reputation with a diverse and varied artist roster. Alongside releases from emerging talent such as Deo & Z-Man and Brynjolfor, it forms parent label hfn music's outlet for club oriented music whether with full releases or remixes for artists such as Kasper Bjørke and Faded Ranger and just recently welcomed renowned remixers such as Michael Mayer, Charles Webster and Luke Solomon, to name a few. Now with the release of Nummer Eins, Hafendisko is taking the next step in its evolution, serving up the best of past and present releases together with a string of exclusive cuts that signal an undeniably bright future. It's machine music with real heart and soul as, time and again, the tracks locate that elusive sweet spot that unifies mind and body. The opening act replicates this highly collectable four track vinyl EP that precedes the digital release: Snacks' ‚Easy' provides an aptly titled intro, with sweet melodies, warm synth swells and looping vocal hooks evolving over a low slung, funk inflected groove. 'Purdie', the duo's debut last September instantly became a huge underground hit, while they are currently working on their debut album. Unkwon is Anders Dixon from Copenhagen and people will stop asking if it's a typo soon. Just off his stunning remix for Trentemøller's Deceive he takes it underground with the stuttering beats and melancholy phase of ‚Everything', building a cavernous yet claustrophobic soundscape that's designed to make your eyeballs sweat, before Ewan Pearson's NRG instrumental of Kasper Bjørke's ‚Apart' goes into dance floor overdrive, upping the ante again. Both the Michael Mayer and the Ewan Pearson mixes of Bjørke's final single off his newest album stirred a buzz.

Die langerwartete Rückkehr eines Kompakt-Pioniers steht ins Haus: endlich präsentiert REINHARD VOIGT mit RACHANEE neues Solo-Material - das erste 12'-Release unter eigenem Namen seit ALL IN von 2007 (KOMPAKT 168). Zwei beeindruckende Techno-Stücke rangeln hier um die Führungsspitze im Frequenzbereich, erfolgreich die altbewährten Methodiken des Künstlers aufbohrend für eine zeitgenössische Meute am Rande des Abhebens.

Was erste Eindrücke angeht, sammelt der Opener und Titeltrack RACHANEE bereits in den ersten paar Sekunden eifrig Punkte, dank des inspirierten Einsatzes eines hypnotischen Vocalsamples. Eine Lektion in griffigem Minimalismus, ist es vor allem dieser wogende Stimmschnipsel, der den Hörer ins Geschehen zieht - gefolgt von einer stoischen, aber überraschend funkigen Bassline deren Sex-Appeal eindeutig in ihrer Einfachheit liegt. Die DNA des Tracks weist ihn als Verwandten des Outputs von Voigt & Voigt aus - insbesondere deren wendiges Debüt-Album - Die Zauberhafte Welt Der Anderen' (KOMPAKT 274 CD 104) und die Verwendung von Found Footage und Collage-Ästhetik mit attraktiven Rhythmusmustern.

Der rückseitige Klopfer TISCH FÜR ZWEI hat eine etwas andere Mentalität und zeigt offen seine schwindelerregende Vorliebe für oldschoolig schleifende Synth-Spuren - erinnernd an eiskalte Klassiker aus dem Voigtschen Katalog wie etwa How We Rock' (KOMPAKT 72) oder - Supertiel' (KOMPAKT EXTRA 2). Als aufgebockte Reminiszenz und meisterhafte Wiederaneignung dieser traditionellen Kunst der Hirnschraube funktionieren die ausscherenden Synth-Bleeps hier prächtig - sie halten die Beats am Raten und sichern das richtige Maß an Irrsinn in einem Track der exklusiv nur nach eigener Pfeife tanzt. Hier springt keiner zweimal in den gleichen Fluß.

After a 12 year break the UK Techno label Solid Groove is back.
Kicking off with a collaboration with New York artist and Metroplex label manager Kimyon Huggins.


A1: Track one Sandy is a Detroit influenced track with noises recorded live by the man himself from hurricane sandy.
A2: Aubreys windy city remix is a more peacetime mix of the original with twists and turns and a dark groove throughout.
B1: Aubrey-Dust storm salsa, is a atmospheric journey with a hypnotic groove and has been tested at Panorama bar at peak time by various DJ's to great success.
B2: Kimyon's remix, taking a more dance floor feel with harder beats and driving metallic sounds.

Hot on the heels of his last outing for the Delsin house series comes this, another essential new offering from German producer Erdbeerschnitzel. The experienced producer has many skills in his arsenal and this new EP proves that once again. The title track The Ample Waters is a joyous and lively concoction that fuses curious melodies with busy little piano stabs and more trilling, sunny melodies. It's busy house for bustling dancefloors and next up, Never Tilt slows things down with jumbled, woody percussion falling over lazy drums and stretched, yawning synth smears. Colourful and effervescent, it's a track that makes you want to shake your limbs. With Level Hopes is again characterised by melodic colour, with pixelated patterns stretched over a funky, gooey bassline and clacking percussion. There's a beautifully DIY feel to the loosely assembled track that gives it a life all of its own before closer Yet Unfulfilled pairs slo-mo beats with neo-soul vocal snippets, lazy and stoned summer chords. It's the most emotive of the lot, but all four tracks are truly feel good jams that have come just in time for some serious summer action.

After releases on John Osbourne's label Tanstaafl BILL YOUNGMAN once again rips it off for Killekill with our catalog number 019.
From straight forward, hard hitting techno as in 'LEVITATE' he crosses over to the typical Youngman style 2-step/techno hybrid as in 'MAGNETIC'. Broken beats and playful me- oldies as in 'TEARDROP TURNS TO SOLID' are definitely not new to him, but the combi- nation of these two elements, as we find it here, definitely is. A beautiful masterpiece that works for the lonely hours as well as for the peaktime dancefloors.

Having kick off 2014 in spectacular fashion with their Episode #5 collab, Superfiction label chiefs Italoboyz and Blind Minded join forces again to deliver the next instalment from their popular label series.

Lead track Paradise Adventure effuses a sense of mystery with its psychedelic guitar rhythmically tripping between beats and electronic blues licks heightening the intensity while never reaching boiling point. This adventure bubbles brilliantly.

Christian Burkhardt is drafted in on remix duty and takes us on a march with his strong groovin' bassline. The German allows the sweeping atmospherics to play their part and brings the stunning guitar riff to the fore, allowing us to get lost further in the rhythmic groove.

Champagne Kisses closes the release and the bassline rule again as Blind Minded fly solo, weaving a heavy slice of bottom-ended funk. The vocal playfully chases the key changes to create an excellent sing-a-long club cut that could easily have lead the release.

Two strong originals and an excellent remix make this an Episode not to be missed!

From the ruins of the birthplace of techno ...
Detroit Underground returns with this, their twenty second release, in a catalogue that has come to define the outer limits of experimental electronics while still adhering to dance floor basics.
This edition sees DU label boss Kero return to the spotlight in collaboration with LA based sound designer and interactive director Drasko Vucevic, aka Drasko V of Los Angeles based DRASTIC Music + Technology. Drasko has recently created, among other things, sound design for a promotional featurette for the Academy Award nominated film Gravity.
Given the label's long time fascination with the intersections of music, art and technology the collaboration is as fitting as it is fruitful.


Side A ups the collaborative ante as this 12'' comes blasting out of the gate with two very strong remixes, Exponent is the subject of a relentless 4/4 treatment from LA techno exponents Drumcell while Superheavy gets an acid-style work out from Canadian producer Jesse Somfay's Borealis project.


It is not until the second side that we hear the original versions of Exponent and Superheavy, both of which reveal themselves to be undulating masses of hip hop tinged beats over dark, bass rich undertones, with the latter offering some brighter tones as well - in other words pretty much what you might expect out of a Drasko V and Kero collaboration.


Side B is further rounded out with a couple of remixes from England's Si Begg and Valance Drakes the former coming in with a super compressed, squelched out, electro inspired take on Exponent while Valance Drakes chills us back out with an impossibly mellowed out version of the same

Franc Spangler is back with three brand new cuts to form the Painted Lady EP. Spangler, also known as Jamie Odell also known as Jimpster returns to Delusions Of Grandeur following something of a hiatus since his 2010 EP Forever And A Day. Not that there hasn't been demand (following his brilliant remix of Norm De Plume for vinyl only label Kolour Limited) but with a busy gig schedule and two labels to keep on top of, the Spangler moniker has always been seen as a bit of a special side project where quality presides over quantity.

Title track Painted Lady kicks things off in fine style with warm, deep house being the order of the day. Franc gets just enough dust in amongst the layering keyboards and echoing stabs to keep things the right side of smooth, the overall vibe is rolling with subtle FX and sounds poking through every now and then bringing a new element to latch onto.

Up next we have Lumpsucker, which brings us a lovely, blissed out, slice of electronica underpinned by classic TR707 beats adding just the right amount of jack to the track. We're getting hints of YMO and Balil with a lingering note of Larry Heard on the finish.

Finally, we're treated to the epic closer that is Camberwell Beauty. Mid tempo boogie beats with crunchy claps and steady hats lay the bedrock for a loping CS5 bassline whilst lush keys shimmer and swirl like little fluffy clouds in a bright summer's sky.

Blank Code start 2014 off strong with their latest EP Rituals of Submission, produced by Luis Flores, with remixes by Black Asteroid and DJ Hyperactive. The opening track Discipline starts off with a nice creepy atmosphere supported by a solid kick and just the right amount of percussion to hook you into the tracks core rhythm, which stays consistent while the supporting percussion keeps the intensity of the track in constant motion. Black Asteroid's Discipline remix gives the track a whole new perspective, while staying true to the original's excellent use of classic elements. The straightforward kick and up­beats work perfect with this track's industrial bassline, while cleverly programmed analog synths carry the track with slow triplet rhythms, and quirky stabs that drift off to space.

Luis Flores' second original composition, The Word, follows the same philosophy as Discipline, with many elements coming together to form one solid rhythm. This is a huge sounding track with intricate metal percussion and pitch modulated stabs that form a dark and inciting hook which is overtaken by filtered claps as the track progresses. DJ Hyperactive gets down to business with his remix of The Word and lets his Chicago roots shine through as hats on all fours and hard hitting claps are used to raise the energy sparked by the deep kick and well processed stab.

'Many Things", released in 2008, and 'From Africa With Fury: Rise' in 2011, 'A Long Way To The Beginning' is the third album by Seun Anikulapo Kuti with Egypt 80, the 14 musicians big band he's been leading since the death of his father Fela Kuti in 1997. It's actually the third part of a triptych in which Fela's youngest son, direct descendant of the afrobeat music style created by his father at the end of the 60's, is back on the offensive regarding injustice in his country, Nigeria, where it still grows, with an intact anger and a music more powerful than ever. The ingredients that have contributed to the success of the first two albums are warring beats, triumphant brass sections and burning lyrics but 'A Long Way to The Beginning' is also distinguished by jazz pianist Robert Glasper's contribution as a producer. While opening the spectrum of the sound, Glasper has made the participation of guests from the conscious American rap scene such as M1 (Dead Prez) or Blitz The Ambassador, a Ghanaian in New York, possible. The voice of German-Nigerian singer Nneka can also be heard on the track 'Black Woman". Finally, the French vibraphonist David Neerman adds his personal touch on two tracks ("I.M.F.' and 'Black Woman"), enhancing his attention to details that, allied to its firepower, allows 'A Long Way To The Beginning' to be a sophisticated and strong album. The message of this record is political. Its mood is offensive. When asked about his commitment, Seun answers: 'Being African means being politically involved. From the moment he wakes up in the morning, an African has a political attitude as everything he'll be doing during the day will have something to do with survival.'

Label boss Daniel Solar returns with a new EP and some helping hands from Stee Downes on the mic, Florian Kruse & Nils Nuernberg with the mixer and Berlin homie Mario Aureo on the composition.

The tracks are ranging from disco to house, from mild to wild and should keep the audience from start to finish.

A1 - Daniel Solar - Someday

Someday... somehow... it feels good! Does it point the direction to the promised land Or is it just the hope for a better sexual experience Send a mail to Doctor Solar. Meanwhile have fun on the floor with this peak time piano driver.

A2 - Daniel Solar - Someday (Kruse & Nürnberg Remix)

Pimp my car, pimp my track... More beats, more piano, more more. Try this for hot & spicy or go back to Daniel's version for the original taste.

B1 - Daniel Solar & Mario Aureo - I Do Believe (feat. Stee Downes)

This is the voice of planet... Stee Downes. Dikso couldn't resist and asked him to join them on stage. Together with longtime production partner Mario Aureo he completes a new dream team and with "I Do Believe" they couldn't have started better.

B2 - Daniel Solar - Cookie Dough

And what are we having for dessert A disco-infected mid-tempo groover called cookie dough Thank god you can dance the calories off with it.

After a string of releases on Drumcode Records, Pets Recordings and Hypercolour, Tom Demac has joined forces with Will Samson in a somewhat unlikely pairing for their debut release via AUS. Following on from AUS's celebratory 50th release from Deetron, a surprise re-release of Sei A and another solid EP from Dusky, this release takes the label along a more expansive and less dance floor orientated route. In 2012 Tom Demac established himself as one of the UK's most exciting producers after widespread acclaim for 'Critical Distance Part 2'. He followed up this success in New Release Information 2013 with collaborations and remixes with Glimpse such as 'L-Plates'. On the other hand Will had been touring indie venues with Kurt Vile, Marissa Nadler, Shearwater, Ólafur Arnalds off the back of his newly released LP, 'Balance' - an album of hazy, ambient & intimate tape recordings At the end of 2012 Tom stumbled across Will's album, although on opposite sides of the musical spectrum, the two shared a similar ethos towards their work - passionately creating, but never taking themselves too seriously. Having both experienced the recent and sudden loss of close family members just a few short months apart from each other, it was clear that there were both in need of a cathartic outlet. 'It Grows Again' and 'Chasing Shadows' reflects these experiences with a striking blend of wistful vocals and ambient guitar swells from Will Samson and Tom's distinctive grumbling and weighty bass lines. The final track on the EP is Tom's formula remix which seeks a more 4 to the floor approach, led by punchy beats and groove rather than intricate vocals. Tom Demac will be complementing the build up to the release by playing gigs and live shows across the Netherlands, Germany, Ibiza and the UK.

Long serving Cadenza recording artist, Mirko Loko, has always worn his Detroit musical influences on his sleeve, counting pioneer Carl Craig as his mentor, and having worked with the likes of Derrick May and Stacey Pullen in the studio.

And on Daybreak, Mirko fully indulges in the one genre that seems never to get tarnished, the mechanical and industrial beats working off the deep and soulful strings and melancholic pads, a true hallmark of the classic sounds of the Motor City. Originally released on Outpost Recordings, the label run by Scottish techno don, Funk D'Void, the masterful Original Mix from Takuya Yamashita gets three new versions from Mirko. Takuya, a techno artist from Kobe, Japan has already sparkled on labels like Biotech and Espai, and in his Original version we have a driving and energetic piece of classic techno. Mirko remains ever faithful to the melody and sounds of the original, providing a full beats re-rub on the 'Mn version', and an alternate 'Taiy version' that's more urgent, with its broken beat. The digital only 'Kanj no' version dispenses of a backbeat entirely, creating a remix that forever teases with it's percussive elements, building up great anticipation throughout. As Cadenza continues to celebrate its 10th year as a label, it takes delight in backing great music from its artists and associates, and this release is another curveball in the label's eclectic catalogue.

We call them the rat pack of our beat scene. With all diversity in sound, the three producers are unified in their love for dope beats and high-proof drinks, both catered and consumed with style and expertise.

Suff Daddy, the globetrotting gin connoisseur and minimoog player with domiciles in Berlin, Düsseldorf and Sydney. He has released three solo albums and has worked with artists like Miles Bonny, Fleur Earth, Ta-ku and Elzhi. After a one year stint in Sydney, he returned to Berlin this spring.

Brenk Sinatra, the Wien-Kaisermühlen homeboy, Westcoast rap fanatic and producer of the forthcoming MC Eiht album. Last year Brenk released the critically acclaimed S3 album together with US singer Miles Bonny and has laced beats for an armada of MCs from both sides of the Atlantic.

And last but not least Dexter, the Stuttgart based trip maker and platinum producer with a day job as a pediatrician. This June Dexter released his second solo-album 'The Trip' a homage to the psychedelic rock era and one of the most innovative and genre bending hip-hop albums of 2013.

All three first met at the Hi-Hat Club, the producer series that we started a couple of years ago with the goal to push and celebrate the art of beat making. With their respective volumes 'Suff Draft' (Suff Daddy), 'The Jazz Files' (Dexter) and 'Chop Shop' (Brenk Sinatra) each of the guys put the instrumental hip-hop thing on a new and different level. None of their beats need a MC to be complete, they are full songs in their own right.

The official birth date of the Betty Ford Boys was the 2012 Beat BBQ in Cologne where Dexter, Suff and Brenk performed together for the first time. Right after the now legendary gig, that was ended by police forces Suff Daddy left for Sydney so that most the recordings for the Betty Ford Boys debut album took place in the cloud. Right after his return to Berlin, the Boys jumped on the bus and played their first club tour which finished with a gig at the Splash Festival.

On August 30th, the Betty Ford Boys release their first album 'Leaders Of The Brew School' on Melting Pot Music. The record combines the best of three worlds and has a surprisingly chilled Westcoast vibe. It's perfect summer music, it's edgy and relaxed at the same time and keeps you thirsty for more ....

Berlins bekanntester Geheimtipp DAVE DK kann keiner Melodie widerstehen und kennt sich sowieso ziemlich gut aus mit den Wallungen der Klubmeute: als langjähriger Verbündeter von Sasses Label Moodmusic zeichnet er verantwortlich für eine beeindruckende Reihe von gefeierten Tanzmusik-Releases, die von zart bis robust reichen. Nun präsentiert der erfahrene Producer die PALMAILLE EP auf KOMPAKT, ein gar köstliches Amalgam aus einander umarmenden Synths und herzerwärmenden Beats. Mit Titeltrack PALMAILLE beginnend, verliert DAVE DK keine Zeit und springt direkt hinein ins Geschehen; in diesem Falle ein einladend groovendes Exponat voll epischer Streicher und Tupfer von süßer Melancholie. Ein perfekter Cut für Momente aller Intensitätsgrade, dreht sich hier alles um ein herrlich simples Motiv, das den taumelnden Samples früher KOMPAKT-Technoballaden ebenso viel verdankt wie etwa den jüngsten Formulierungen von Deep House. PALMAILLE findet einen mehr als würdigen Begleiter in NAKAI POP AMBIENT VERSION, einer fein abgestimmten Portion beatbefreiter Seligkeit, die unzählige Tore offen hält für fröhliches Eintauchen. Langsam an einer ganzheitlichen Bassline entlang gleitend, malen Strahlen von funkelndem Sound ein zerbrechliches und doch beeindruckendes Gemälde, den Sternschnuppen am Nachthimmel nicht unähnlich. Dies dient ganz nebenbei auch als wunderschöne Überleitung zu HOME AGAIN, dem dritten und abschließenden Track der PALMAILLE EP.

Für HOME AGAIN versicherte DAVE DK sich der gesanglichen Hilfe von HEIKO VOSS, Mitbegründer von Kölns legendärem Label Firm Records und eine Hälfte der KOMPAKT-Veteranen Schaeben & Voss. Das Ergebnis ist ein zeitloses House-Juwel, das sich durch warme Flächen und elegante Percussion auszeichnet. Einmal mehr wird hier der Beweis erbracht, daß elektronische Musik eine Frage sowohl der Präzision als auch der Emotion ist - für jedes Klub-Release ein anspruchsvoller Balanceakt. Was auch der Grund für unsere Begeisterung über eine äußerst gelungene Platte ist.

*The product of a move from South Carolina to Berkeley, CA and the subsequent extended separation from loved ones, Toro Y Moi's third full-length, Anything in Return, puts Chaz Bundick right in the middle of the producer/songwriter dichotomy that his first two albums established.
*There's a pervasive sense of peace with his tendency to dabble in both sides of the modern music-making spectrum, and he sounds comfortable engaging in intuitive pop production and putting forth the impression of unmediated id.
*The producer's hand is prominent- not least in the sampled "yeah"s and "uh"s that give the album a hip-hop-indebted confidence- and many of the songs feature the 4/4 beats and deftly employed effects usually associated with house music. Tracks like "High Living" and "Day One" show a considerably Californian influence, their languid funk redolent of a West Coast temperament, and elsewhere- not least on lead single, "So Many Details"- the record plays with darker atmospheres than we're used to hearing from Toro Y Moi. Sounding quite assured in what some may call this songwriter's return to producer-hood, Anything in Return is Bundick uninhibited by issues of genre, an album that feels like the artist's essence.
*Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, Chaz Bundick has been toying with various musical projects since early adolescence. Having spent his formative years playing in punk and indie rock acts, his protean Toro Y Moi project has been his vessel for further musical exploration since 2001. During his time spent studying graphic design at the University of South Carolina, Chaz became increasingly focused on his solo work, incorporating electronics and allowing a wider range of influences- French house, Brian Wilson's pop, 80s R&B, and Stones Throw hip-hop- to show up in his music. By the time he graduated in spring 2009, Chaz had refined his sound to something all his own. Music journals across the board touted his hazy recordings as the sound of the summer, and he released his debut album, Causers of This in early 2010.
*Since then, Bundick has proven himself to be not just a prolific musician, but a diverse one as well, letting each successive release broaden the scope of the Toro Y Moi oeuvre. The funky psych-pop of 2011's Underneath the Pine evinced an artist who could create similar atmospheres even without the aid of source material and drum machines. His Freaking Out EP, a handful of singles and remixes, and a retrospective box-set plot points all along the producer/songwriter spectrum in which he's worked since his debut, and Anything In Return is another exciting offering that shows he's still not ready to settle into any one genre.

Passarella Death Squad are back with an new EP and once again open up a world of brooding, twisted emotion brought to life by their unique sound.

Giant EP commences its twisted journey with French vocalist Emilie Albisser's style beautifully on 'Blue Lips' running in parallel across thundering basslines, and clipped layered synth sounds.

Title track 'Giant' leads with a Vangelis style combination of fear inducing sounds that entwine in perfect time with Emilie's ethereal voice, from a future where hope is dwindling.
'The Stars and Stripes' is an enigmatic homage to the home of electronic beats - Detroit. Where Drexciya channels 'Drone' in a fiercely uplifting mantra to the power of America.

Giant EP ends with 'Untitled' which aptly wraps off this musical journey using metallic sounds melded together taking you back to that Beijing smog with huge LED screens and too many people.

Almost exactly three years after the first, Redshape has readied his second Red Pack, due for co release by his own Present imprint alongside his frequent Dutch home, Delsin, in June.
Whilst the world is still enjoying the German's latest album "Square", the man himself has typically moved on once more. On Red Pack II he offers up six tracks new of hugely atmospheric and romantically industrial techno across two pieces of vinyl.

First up, 'Disco Marauder' has raw, jangling beats, traumatised vocal cries and plenty of sci-fi ambiance all coalescing into a filmic techno tapestry, before 'Path Dub' goes deeper and more streamlined with rattling claps peeling off taught synth cables in hypnotic fashion. The same track also comes in an original version, which is a much more jagged, roughshod and textured affair.

'The Source' is a track slowed to a crawl that almost seems to want to collapse under its own weight. Machines gurgle and gargle, the beats march on with a heavy heart and widescreen synths all that ever present sense of cinematism that makes Redshape such a unique producer.

Standout track 'Daft Mode' features a beautiful Reese bassline and rich layers of classic Detroit chords of the sort Inner City once championed. Redshape then pairs them with slicing percussion and loose limbed but tough edged beats and lets them roll on to a blissfully emotive oblivion... Fans of 'Mucky Bones' from the first Red Pack might see this track as a close relative. Last track 'Bulp Head' is one of Redshape's more euphoric tracks thanks to the glistening and pixelated melodies which rise up and up through choppy, metallic percussion. It closes out another release from Redshape that offers six more classic pieces that are as idiosyncratic as they innovative..

Here comes the first release lf the outstanding super disco stars HARD TON on our label! With A-side track RISE UP we have the first track with chart potential on our label we'd say. We love it anyway! : )
B1 track WORK THAT BODY shows off the heavier jacking side of HARD TON and B2 MONOTONE rounds up the EP with its uplifting house chords.
Not our average cup of tea, but we fckng love it.
Instead of boring you to death with just another info text, we copy these words from I-D Magazine about HARD TON:
HARD TON are the Italian duo with the larger than life disco sound and a surprising love of met- al. Fused together in 2008 from the musical loins of DJ Wawashi and heavy metal singer Max. Sylvester-styled falsettos conjure up memories of smoky dancefloors during the heady days of HI-NRG, which combined with a contemporary sound of accelerated beats and screaming acid basslines, shows a nod to the past can result in a slap across the face for the present. Using analogue and vintage gear, from the 303, 606, 707, Oberheim DMX, Korg Monopoly, MS20, Prophet V5, the music is as organic as synthetic music can be, their equipment living and dying by its own unpredictable rules. (i-D Magazine)

'Little Drummer Girl' is a stunningly rich, diverse and futuristic 4-track EP from the Brooklyn duo Tiger Fingers. A collaboration between Jordan Lieb (also known as Black Light Smoke) and Asako Kujimoto. The cheekily-named pair have assembled three unique remixes of their title track - each as bold and refreshing as the other. The A side kicks off with the original - all bubbling synths, arps and effects, and a subtle yet disturbing vocal from Asako. Beats and thunderous synth riffs combine with speak 'n' spell samples to produce a mesmerizing brand of 22nd century electro pop. Next up is the 'Night Plane Club Mix' - one of two remixes the Texan William Rauscher provides for this release. The club mix straightens out the groove and develops the track into a crisp house groover, finding plenty of space for old school sub bass, chiming 808 percussion and washed out, ethereal vocals - huge vibes for the floor. 'The Night Plane Remix' sees Rauscher explore more glitchy, post-everything, acid-flecked waters - an atmospheric, twisted stormer. Last but by no means least is the Hotflush man-of-the-moment, Jimmy Edgar. His take on 'Little Drummer Girl' uses the original as a springboard, from which he constructs a slamming electro-boogie-space-jam. Deeply funky, highly charged, and immensely inventive club music. 'Little Drummer Girl' is taken from Tiger Fingers debut minialbum which is due for release on hafendisko in December. About Tiger Fingers: The upcoming self-titled debut album by Tiger Fingers, the duo of Jordan Lieb and Asako Fujimoto, almost never saw the light of day. Recorded in the aftermath of their first collaboration, the aggressive electro-rock band Dead Radar (2005-2007), Tiger Fingers yielded six decidedly more dance and pop inspired tunes filled

Spring is here. It's the time for lightly dressed easiness. It's the time for big emotions. And when it comes to music, it's the time for Acker-sound! Matching the outbreak of the open air season, it comes in the form of extra laid-back Dub Techno. The "Ganja Tune" from English producer Robot Needs Oil moves somewhere between casual dance steps and relaxed hip swing, sunny guitar play creates a warm summer vibe. Mollono.Bass bangs the kick drum a little louder, arranges a bouncing groove based on catchy offbeat chords, and inserts the fluffy sound of a transverse flute. In another version, he additionally involves the Latin charm of singer Ava. Finally the last track on this EP comes with dubby delay sounds, a Jamaican-flavoured vocal sample and smoky beats: "Pull Up" by Robot Needs Oil is a musical invitation for inspired mindbody relaxation.

Hailing from Dubstep's home town of Croydon, Wheel & Deal Records introduce Surge. With a signature deep and base driven sound you'll come to recognise instantly, trust us when we say, you'll be hearing a lot more from this guy.'Leech' starts us off with a hauntingly atmospheric vocal track featuring vocalist Phxis. Sub heavy with marching beats and harmonic tones, this is a perfect mix of angelic vocals, and hard metallic beats. With exclusive support from N-type & Walsh.'Swaying Mantis' sounds exactly as you'd imagine. Intelligent beats, heavyweight and dramatic, you may have heard N-type starting many of his sets over the summer with this one. Unapologetically bass driven with relentless sway this one will get in your head and stay, in a good way!

Coming out with one of the most anticipated and long-awaited albums so far on Brainfeeder is Samiyam aka Sam Baker. 'Sam Baker's Album' is 40 minutes of pure listening pleasure, a series of woozy, off-centre hip hop instrumentals drawing heavily on Baker's love of electronic funk but never in hock to it. Intensely detailed and carrying considerable emotional weight, this is not 'Rap Beats Volume 2' but an album of fully-realised pieces of music which stand on their own without the need for an MC's intervention.
Ann Arbor native, Samiyam (born Sam Baker) moved to Los Angeles in 2006. In his short time out West, he has become one of the city's most progressive and recognized producers, a man who has spearheaded the revival of interest in instrumental hip-hop music over the last few years. Baker's 'Rap Beats Vol.1' collection was the very first release on Brainfeeder. He has also collaborated with old friend Flying Lotus as Flyamsam as well as having releases on Hyperdub and Poo-Bah records.Samiyam describes the work contained in his "Debut album" simply as, 'my favourite stuff' - and what could be better than that

To kick things off Riskotheque and Matt U unleash 'The Elephant Man'. An eeire atmos creeps in, accompanied by dissonant chords. The drop snaps to a pulsating sub bass, driven by crisp and sharp beats. A serious low end work out, guaranteed to work the bass bins. On the flip Droid Sector and Draft Portal lay down some solid beats which rolls into a trance influenced riff acompained with dreamy vocals from Kira Anniles.

The new album will be released across a series of 4 limited edition 12" vinyls. This is the 2nd 12 inch From Tronic Jazz The Berlin Sessions. A Guy Called Gerald has spent the last couple of years flitting through shadows, turning up on labels like Perlon, Beatstreet and Sender like a peripatetic prophet of the Berlin underground, seeding the scene with cryptic singles that return to the past to suggest alternate futures. Now he returns to Berlin's Laboratory Instinct label with the follow-up to 2006's Proto Acid: The Berlin Sessions, the album that re-established Gerald as an acid hero and techno auteur. Tronic Jazz: The Berlin Sessions builds upon the foundation established by its predecessor to create an even more powerful statement of intent, one that communicates more persuasively than ever Gerald's vision for techno in its third decade of existence. One immediate difference stands out, this time around. Where Proto Acid offered a seamless mix of 24 cuts, recorded in one epic session, Tronic Jazz collects 13 standalone tracks. That's welcome news to DJs. After so many years of digital anything-goes, you might have forgotten the kind of sounds that are possible with "old" machines: the way a lead stacked against tuned percussion and shrouded in pads can evoke still other sounds, hidden in the mix, or maybe not really there at all. It's a ghostly, suggestive presence, a kind of evocation of infinite possibility within the context of a limited set of inputs. In that sense, Tronic Jazz follows a certain minimalist impulse, but it's far too lush ever to be mistaken for the dread "mnml" of recent years. This stuff is wide-eyed and full of life. When it funks, it funks hard, and when it smoothes out, it can be as intimate as a hand-written note left on a lover's pillow. As "class ic" as Tronic Jazz may be, the album refutes any notion that "class ic" equals "retro," that the ideas have all been expressed before. Tronic Jazz takes the foundations of house and techno as though they were a kind of language, and speaks volumes with them.

Shadow Play, the brand new label owned by Parisian artist Le Loup and his partner Pura, drops its second release courtesy of the bossman himself alongside Chris Carrier. The two men got together in the studio and cooked up some tasty goodness. The first of four tracks on this release is the intergalactic opus 'Phoenix Lights', which works off serene pads that transport you out into the cosmos, along with a warm, soothing bassline and electronic chirps and bleeps. 'Research Programm (Outro)' takes us into more obscure realms, as Chris Carrier and Le Loup sample a scientific vocal and create a mesmerising bed of sounds underneath it. On the flip we kick off with 'Clouds Reflection', another track which features a sample from an old instructional video. This track has minimal composition, with dreamy astral pads, shuffling beats and a grumbling low end. In the second half Chris and Le Loup introduce more twinkling FX, to engage and hypnotise you... To bring the EP to a close we're presented with 'V-Shape', which begins with a layer of clever drum programming aimed straight at the hips. Once you're moving get ready for the juicy bassline, and a sultry top end that grips you and gripping progression. The perfect to end an utterly fresh EP...