quête:off the record

Demilitarize follows Nazar’s remarkable 2020 debut Guerrilla, which reprocessed Angolan kuduro music with rough textures, field recordings and media clips, telling a personal story of the civil war that exiled his family to Europe, while his father, a rebel General, fought a losing battle in the jungle back home. After Guerrilla, and an extended period of serious illness, now Demilitarize is motivated by a reckoning with mortality and the flowering of new love, turning the ‘rough kuduro’ of Guerrilla inside out.This is a deep sound world, genuinely dreamy, the arc of the album describing shedding the armour of trauma and surrendering to this new situation. A constant and unexpected aspect of Demilitarize is Nazar's gentle, submerged vocal. Insistent and mantra-like, it’s like a cross between Elisabeth Frazer, Arthur Russell and Frank Ocean, and the music is fragile and opaque in response. The rhythms of kuduro are still here,but move around his voice like fish around a swimmer, while precise sound design illuminates from different angles. Chords spiral, ripple and shoot through the beats giving tracks the loosest of settings; songs disassemble; vocals float off-centre.

Set in Tasmania and offering a fresh take on the zombie genre. Clark reveals the films emotional heart with tender strings and choral recordings, whilst underpinning with glorious bass sounds that could be taken straight from recent studio album Steep Stims. Plus the occasional requisite jump scare, pin drop tension and vocal eeriness.

Working with 32 writers, vocalists, musicians, and producers across the U.S., the U.K., and Brazil, the album carries an intimate feel that resonates with vinyl buyers who value authenticity, context, and artistry. Blending roots- influenced Americana and soulful pop, the album delivers a warm, organic sound designed for full-album listening. With songs focused on relationships, friendships, and everyday life, Behind the Scenes offers a cohesive yet varied listening experience that encourages repeat spins and long-term shelf appeal. Performing, writing, and recording since the age of 16, lead singer Liz Lenten relaunched Auburn in 2012 and has since released four albums recorded in Nashville with Grammy-nominated producer Thomm Jutz, earning critical acclaim, an extensive international airplay. Liz tours regularly with Auburn Acoustic; hosts the podcast Behind the Scenes of an Indie Artist and was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2022 for Services to Music.

“Onomatopeikoa II” follows on from Irazoki's 2017 Gitarra Onomatopeikoa release, and that album's sense of untethered, questing curiosity is not only carried over but expanded upon even further here. Combining a fully committed approach to the guitar with an almost egoless lightness of touch, this album builds upon the already impressively scopious range of Gitarra Onomatopeikoa to dizzying effect.

Irazoki makes full use of an impressively broad palette. Yet nothing feels forced, nothing is for show – there’s just a sense of open-hearted generosity.

In lesser hands such a whirlwind tour of style and form might risk failing to get its hooks in deep enough, yet not only does Irazoki have the imaginative scope to tackle these varying approaches to the instrument, he has the technical chops to pull it off. Each composition seems to have an openness of intent that is utterly disarming; all cards are on the table and nothing is held back, resulting in a creative tour de force that builds, piece by piece, to a unifying cohesiveness that makes the whole far greater than the sum of its parts.

Featuring contributions from long-time OTO favourites Rhodri Davies and Raphael Roginski,

“Onomatopeikoa II” is nevertheless unmistakably a work of singular craft and vision.

FFO: Jeff Parker, Loren Connors, Keiji Haino

Limited edition vinyl of 250 copies

presented by Hegoa with a cover designed by Pablo Mirón.

Nilüfer Yanya has built a reputation as one of the UK’s mostdistinctive and compelling voices, seamlessly blending indie rock,soul and jazz into a sound uniquely her own. She released her third studio album, ‘My Method Actor’, onSeptember 13th, 2024, via Ninja Tune. The album receivedwidespread critical acclaim, earning the No. 13 spot on Pitchfork’s listof The 50 Best Albums Of 2024. Now, she releases her highly anticipated our-track EP, ‘DancingShoes’, co-written with her frequent collaborator Wilma Archer. Run of UK / EU festivals this summer including Glastonbury on theWest Holts stage (recorded and broadcasted via BBC 6 Music),Green Man, All Points East, Primavera a la Ciutat, Best Kept Secret,Way Out West and Oya Festival. Supporting Alex G on his US tour, and Lorde (90K cap) on her arenatour, with stop offs at the 02 Arena, Utilita Arena and OVO Hydro,plus Michael Kiwanuka in Istanbul for a one-off show (8K cap). Nilüfer Yanya has previously opened for Adele, The xx and Mitski, aswell as selling out her own headlining shows across Europe,Australia, Japan and the US. Previous collaborators include Sampha, King Krule, Nick Hakim,Bullion, Dave Okumu, and more. For fans of Arlo Parks, King Krule, Sharon Van Etten, Helado Negro,Sudan Archives.  “It’s a neat, cohesive body of work, one that stretches past theboundaries of her prior album.” - NME
“Over a lo-fi drum machine and eerie guitar figures, ‘Cold Heart’ floatsabout like ‘In Rainbows’-era Radiohead, while ‘Where To Look’’satmosphere is eventually punctured by sonic implosion.”- TheGuardian
“Colored with the London singer-songwriter’s signature smoky voiceand searing guitar riffs” - Pitchfork

THY WILL BE DONE is the newest album from $uicideboy$, delivered as a raw, unfiltered gift to the G59 fanbase. The 10-track album blends the duo’s signature hard-hitting, gritty sound with deeply personal reflections on life before and after sobriety, before and after finding God, and the ongoing tension between fame, money, and family. The focus track “BLOODSWEAT” anchors the project with brutal honesty and intensity, and will be accompanied by an official music video following the album’s release.

Languoria is a collaboration between Denmark's Sofie Birch and Poland's Antonina Nowacka. While Birch describes herself as an ambient musician, Nowacka''s primary instrument is her own voice; they share in common a facility for creating complex, layered work.

Polish label Mondoj has teamed up with Unsound Festival, who initially brought this project to life for their 2021 Warsaw edition. After another show in Cracow later that year, the two have met in Copenhagen to record a series of compositions. Unsound will also premiere Languoria this year in Cracow as well as during their New York offshoot.

Sofie has previously published her music on Stroom, Seil, Longform Editions and Intercourse. Antonina's debut album "Lamunan" was released in 2020 by Mondoj. Antonina is also half of the A/V experimental duo WIDT.

"...their upcoming collaborative project Languoria, shows how natural the pairing is" - Pitchfork

"Soundscapes meet "spiritual vocalisations." - The Vinyl Factory

"Neulust," the latest EP from Neuzeitliche Bodenbeläge, introduces listeners to the talents of Joshua Gottmanns and Niklas Wandt. Wandt's captivating voice invokes a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of the era when Thorsten Fenslau was active, infusing tracks with poetic recitations. Wandt's drumming harmonizes perfectly with Gottmanns' warm chords and captivating melodies. Together, they debuted on Zurich's Lustpoderosa label with "Neulust," aiming to redefine their musical connection. Their presence in the central European underground scene has been marked by releases on Themes for Great Cities or Bureau B, accompanied by their vintage German Wave sound and lively performances. Regular touring has been part of their journey. "Neulust," recorded with minimal intervention, delves into themes of love, estrangement, and consumerism, blending haunting electro, deep house, NDW, and Euro Dance Elements. The EP signifies a significant stylistic shift and stands as the band's most compelling offering yet in their ongoing musical evolution.

Formed in 1992, Boris boldly explores their own vision of heavy music, where words like "explosive" and "thunderous" barely do justice. Using overpowering soundscapes embellished with copious amounts of lighting and billow smoke, Boris has shared with audiences across the planet an experience for all five senses in their concerts, earning legions of zealous fans along the way. This is the first-ever and particularly-anticipated official vinyl release of Boris's essential 2000 album, Flood. The album was originally released in Japan, only on CD. Delivered in four equally important movements, Flood is simultaneously delicate, dense, undulating, devastating, emancipating, hypnotic and triumphant. Each season of the album has its own sense of place, best revealed listen-by-listen. With the album, Boris broaden their vision of musical possibility, with a notable and imaginative influence from visionary American minimalist Steve Reich, weaving in prog, drone and slowcore into a multifaceted symphony. There simply has never been another piece of music like Flood.

Justus Köhncke is a unique voice in the history of Kompakt – and far beyond. He has contributed so many unforgettable tracks to our catalogue that it was difficult for us to make a selection. His sound has often been copied, but remains incomparable. From his deep knowledge and understanding of the history of pop, schlager and disco, he distilled not only official club hits such as ‘2 After 909’ and “Timecode”, but also countless poetic gems. Both sides of Justus Köhncke’s work are united here on this record. Justus’ music knows no boundaries, only ‘​weiche Zäune (soft fences​)’.

Special attention should be paid to the included bonus 10‘. Here you will find two of his most enchanting, hard-to-find cover versions. His immortal version of Jürgen Paape’s evergreen ’So weit wie noch nie‘ and the monumental adaptation of Round One’s ’New Day”, originally released under the nom de guerre Kinky Justice.

Justus Köhncke ist eine einzigartige Stimme in der Geschichte von Kompakt – und weit darüber hinaus. Er hat so viele unvergessliche Tracks zu unserem Katalog beigesteuert, dass es uns schwerfiel, eine Auswahl zu treffen. Sein Sound wurde oft kopiert, ist aber nach wie vor unvergleichlich. Aus seinem tiefen Wissen über und Verständnis der Geschichte von Pop, Schlager und Disco destillierte er nicht nur amtliche Clubhits wie „2 After 909” oder „Timecode”, sondern auch unzählige poetische Kleinode . Beide Seiten von Justus Köhncke's Schaffen sind hier auf dieser Platte vereint. Justus’ Musik kennt keine Grenzen, nur „weiche Zäune”.

Ein besonderes Augenmerk sei auf die enthaltene Bonus-10” gerichtet. Hier finden sich zwei seiner bezauberndsten, schwer zu findenden Coverversionen. Seine unsterbliche Version von Jürgen Paape's Evergreen “So weit wie noch nie” und die monumentale Bearbeitung von Round One’s “New Day”, die ursprünglich unter dem nom de guerre Kinky Justice veröffentlicht wurde.

New single by Romperayo on 7-inch vinyl spinning at 45 rpm, released by the Austrian label discos
elgozo.
This record is a tribute to the sound of Cumbia Sabanera de Acordeón from Colombia, in dialogue with
Mexico’s Cumbia Sonidera. It also pays homage to the melodic line of the first generation of
Colombian accordion masters of Cumbia Sabanera such as Joaquín Betín, Emiro Caicedo, and
Policarpo Calle.

The two tracks are built on a solid rhythmic foundation of bass and percussion, accompanying a
melodic interplay between accordion and analog synthesizer.Mixed and produced by Pedro Ojeda Acosta at Romperayo Studios, both songs were recorded live, in
quartet format, at Mambo Negro Studios in Bogotá, Colombia, by Daniel Michel, featuring Iván
Medellín on accordion, Nicolás Eckardt on electric bass, Juan Manuel Toro on analog synth, and Pedro
Ojeda on percussion.
This single offers a first taste of Romperayo’s upcoming LP, set for release in early 2026 — once again
on discos elgozo.

Announcing Maara’s new album Ultra Villain, a deeply personal, narrative-driven record that explores desire, heartbreak, obsession, and the freedom that comes with choosing yourself.

Written from a place of hard-won self-trust, the song marks a shift toward clarity. “I realized people can only meet you where they’ve met themselves.”

Written and Produced by Maara Louisa Dunbar
Additional Production and Mixing by Francis Latreille and Patrick Holland at Jump Source Studios
Mastered by Noel Summerville
Cover Art by Dodleyz
Design by Jesse Osborne-Lanthier

From dreamy indie pop to melancholic ambient fragments to crazy distortion pedals, The Me In You has never sounded more adventurous without losing sight of cohesion.

Press:
Humo: “The Me in You simply offers more colour and dimension than most other Belgian pop groups”
OOR: ‘A wonderfully addictive album for connoisseurs.’
Het Nieuwsblad: ‘Duyster music that gets under your skin.’
Le Soir: ‘Every song, every melody manages to surprise us.’
Stu Bru: Catch of The Day – De Afrekening list
Radio 1: Top 10 Vox list – A Rotation

Singer, songwriter, and producer Absolutely will release her highly anticipated sophomore album Paracosm on February 20, 2026, via Epic Records. A kaleidoscopic mix of pop, electronica, jazz, and R&B, the album features previously released singles “Goodbye Glitter,” “I Just Don’t Know You Yet,” and “No Audience,” each offering a window into the record’s emotional and sonic scope. From the viral, piano-pounding transformative catharsis of “I Just Don’t Know You Yet” — which sparked standing ovations on tour and millions of TikTok views last summer — to the cinematic introspection of recent single “No Audience,” praised by Rolling Stone as “an invitation to create purely for yourself,” Paracosm cements Absolutely as one of the most compelling new voices of her generation and 2026’s de facto artist to watch.

long content, you may need to expand row to see all... Mutant freut sich, in Zusammenarbeit mit Milan Records das offizielle Soundtrack-Album zu Edgar Wrights Sci-Fi-Action-Thriller The Running Man zu veröffentlichen.Das Album enthält die Original-Filmmusik des Oscar-Preisträgers Steven Price (Gravity, Last Night in Soho, Baby Driver). The Running Man, bei dem Wright als Co-Autor und Regisseur fungierte, handelt von einem Vater aus der Arbeiterklasse, der alles daran setzt, seine kranke Tochter zu retten. Er nimmt an einer tödlichen TV-Gameshow teil, in der die Kandidaten 30 Tage lang überleben müssen, während sie von Profikillern gejagt werden. Durch seinen Instinkt, seinen Widerstand und seine Entschlossenheit wird er zum unerwarteten Publikumsliebling – und zu einer Bedrohung für das gesamte System.Wir sind große Fans von Edgar und Steven und freuen uns sehr, dass sie uns erneut ein fantastisches Kinoerlebnis bescheren. Steven Prices Score für The Running Man ist eine schillernde Mischung aus treibenden Beats, brodelnden Synthesizern und traditionellen orchestralen Elementen, die vor Einfallsreichtum und Stil nur so sprühen. Das Hauptthema besitzt eine elegante, zeitlose Qualität mit üppigen, beruhigenden Streichern, die eine hypnotische Melodie weben. Im Gegensatz dazu stehen die Titel der Gameshow-Sequenzen, die wirklich unterhaltsam, bombastisch und im Retro-Stil gehalten sind – was wiederum einen Kontrast zu den düstereren, dystopischen Stücken bildet, die im gesamten Werk verteilt sind. Im Film wirkt die Musik wie ein weiterer Charakter, der die Geschichte vorantreibt. Als eigenständiges Hörerlebnis ist sie fesselnd, dynamisch, macht großen Spaß und fängt die vielen Facetten und Stimmungen des Films perfekt ein.Die Vinyl-Edition mit dem Artwork von Luke Preece ist auf zwei farbige 140g-LPs gepresst. Sie enthält ein „The Truth“-Zine als Replika aus dem Film mit exklusiven Liner Notes von Edgar Wright und Komponist Steven Price.Ebenfalls auf CD erhältlich.

Following her contribution to Scenic Route’s Road Less Travelled 2, MS RAY returns with MELT — a defining new chapter in what Boomkat described as “adult contemporary soul.”

MELT is set to be a true benchmark for MS RAY - a five-track release that moves between the cathartic and the heartfelt, shifting fluidly between R&B, trip-hop and dream pop. Subtle yet expansive, it captures her most refined and emotionally resonant songwriting to date.

The EP features new single “Miss You” ft. Nourished By Time, a slow-burn duet pairing her velveteen delivery with his unmistakable, off-kilter pop sensibility.

Also included is “Signs,” her standout cut from Road Less Travelled 2, available here for the first time on vinyl, alongside three brand new, unreleased tracks that further explore her palette of nocturnal electronics, minimalist soul and soft-focus atmospherics.

Unic presents the sixth installment of its vinyl series with Transparency EP by Romanian producer Faster, now back in stock as a 2 x 12" pack, combining the original releases.

Breaking ground with this release, the Ruere Records head showcases his detailed production approach across four cuts. Blending German and Romanian influences, Transparency EP unfolds as a rhythmic and carefully constructed journey, built for impact on and off the dancefloor.

With intricate structures and a strong sense of flow, the record highlights Faster’s ability to craft precise, driving Minimal House and Techno with depth and clarity.

Jazz by Sun Ra, Vol. 1.


Released in 1957 on the Transition label, this album is important because it features Sun Ra's first recordings before the Saturn sessions, recorded in 1956 when the Chicago musicians were searching for something more, something beyond.

''Stealth' is certainly an apt title for this disarming collection of crypto-New Age. From its opening, one might be forgiven for assuming that what follows is a tableau of digital disruption, and noise in one of its less offensive iterations.
However, Takao instead presents a rich and detailed tapestry of compositions that take New Age affectations, fashioning them into something far grander. There's a penchant for the nai¨ve, the more garish of digital instruments in the vein of James Ferraro - but importantly, Takao steers away from submitting to gestures themselves nai¨ve or garish, opting instead to focus attention to a more nuanced, delicate style.
Indeed, a more intrinsic tradition to posit 'Stealth' as an inheritor of would be the Impressionism of Debussy, or even Satie, with Takao's approach drawing light and composure from his instruments at their most bare and unadorned. Ever so pleasing and atmospheric, 'Stealth' is remarkably affecting in its subtlety.' (Nico Niquo)

Indulge in a delicious audiophile preview with this Appetizer 12" from the upcoming 2024 compilation by Swiss DJ Princess P. This musical amuse-bouche offers a taste of her eclectic sound, in anticipation of her full, richly curated collection.

Swiss DJ Princess P, known for her eclectic sound, has been a dynamic presence in the electronic scene since the 90s. From her early days exploring house music to working at Plattfon Records, she's honed a genre-defying style. Her sets, a blend of savory house with indie and techno, are renowned at clubs and festivals alike, showcasing her deep musical knowledge and innovative spirit.

Half Speed Cutting and mastering by Sidney Meyer @ EBS Berlin Studios (formerly Deutsche Grammophon).

Liner notes by Kirk Degiorgio

K.W. Cahill records and plays acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, karimba, melodica and an AM/FM portable radio on March 2024 time.

Mastered by James A. Toth in Toronto.

Second release from London based jazz quartet and recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Sguardo Celestiale kicks things off with some heavy jazz funk vibes for the dancers. Five Days slows things down a little and veers more towards the bands library influence. Limited to 250 copies.

Alcides Neto is a Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist based in Narrm/Melbourne. Drawing inspiration from the folk traditions of his homeland, Alcides offers a fresh perspective on Brazilian music by blending traditional rhythms with contemporary Brazilian jazz, samba, bossa and more. Known for his distinctive percussive guitar playing and warm, soothing vocals, he brings an authentic Brazilian vibe to every performance. Alcides is set to release his debut album Amú via the Music in Exile label in early 2026, featuring eight original compositions recorded at Head Gap Studios, Melbourne. For fans of Gilberto Gil, Jorge Ben Jor, and all the Brazilian samba greats.

HolyBrune begeistert mit ihrer sanften Stimme und eingängigen Toplines. Als Singer-Songwriterin und Komponistin erlangte sie erstmals Aufmerksamkeit an der Seite von Dabeull mit dem goldzertifizierten Hit „You & I“. Mit „Visions“ liefert sie eine intergalaktische Ode an die Liebe, die kosmische Romantik und Retro-Futurismus miteinander verbindet. Verspielt und luftig vereint der Track Vocoder, Talkbox, groovigen Bass und kitschige Synthesizer – eine lebendige Hommage an die 80er-Jahre und The Rah Band.

DJ Support: Ben UFO, Palms Trax and more…

Alex Kassian reunites with Hiroaki Oba as Opal Sunn. Following on from their massive 2024 hit Elastic this latest offering ‘Liquid’ is the second in a trilogy of releases on the ‘buy on sight’ Test Pressing Records. Having taken their live set to the world finest clubs & with Elastic being an end of night anthem for DJ’s such as Palms Trax and Ben UFO. This highly anticipated new release builds on their sound and is sure to be another hit with DJ’s and record buyers alike

"Saint Cloud" von Katie Crutchfield alias Waxahatchee ist das fünfte Album der Indie-Songschreiberin und wurde im Sommer 2019 auf der texanischen Sonic Ranch in Tornillo und Long Pond in Stuyvesant, NY, aufgenommen und von Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Big Red Machine) produziert. Mit unerschütterlicher Ehrlichkeit unterzieht sich Crutchfield auf "Saint Cloud" einer offenen Selbstprüfung. Das Album entstand nach Crutchfields Entschluss Alkohol und Drogen hinter sich zu lassen, entsprechend widmet sie sich lyrisch dem Thema Sucht. Das schlägt sich auch klanglich in einer klareren und traditionelleren Ausrichtung des Albums nieder: "I think all of my records are turbulent and emotional, but this one feels like it has a little dose of enlightenment. It feels a little more calm and less reckless." gibt die Musikerin zu Protokoll. Auch musikalisch beschreitet Crutchfield neues Terrain, während die letzten beiden gefeierten Alben "Out In The Storm" (2017) und "Ivy Tripp" (2015) noch von lärmenden Gitarren bestimmt waren, streift "Saint Cloud" diese Wall of Sound Schicht für Schicht ab, um Platz für Crutchfields Stimme und Texte zu schaffen. Das Ergebnis ist ein Album geworden, das von klassischen Americana-Sounds durchwoben ist, aber mit einem modernen Touch. Auf "Saint Cloud" präsentiert sich Crutchfield erneut als eine der talentiertesten Geschichtenerzählerinnen der Gegenwart und sitzt so selbstsicher im Songwriter-Sattel wie noch nie zuvor.

Andy Luff & Herra return to the picnic imprint 10 releases after their first offering.

"Morning Star" zeigt Kekht Aräkh auf dem Weg zu einer authentischeren, verfeinerten Version seiner selbst. Das Album wurde in Berlin und Stockholm aufgenommen und entstand in einer Phase intensiven persönlichen und künstlerischen Wachstums. Es verbindet aggressive Black-Metal-Passagen mit immersiven, strukturierten Klanglandschaften, die sowohl intim als auch weitläufig wirken. Seit seinen Anfängen in Mykolajiw, Ukraine, hat Dmitry (alias Crying Orc), der alleinige Kopf hinter dem Projekt, einen unverwechselbaren Weg innerhalb des Black Metal gesucht. Diese Vision entfaltete sich durch sein Debütalbum "Through the Branches to Eternity EP" (2018) und die Alben "Night & Love" (2018) und "Pale Swordsman" (2021), die eine charakteristische Spannung zwischen wildem, viszeralem Black Metal und zarten, introspektiven Balladen etablierten. Auf "Morning Star" erreicht diese Dynamik eine neue Tiefe. Das Album entstand in einer Phase künstlerischer Klarheit und erkundet eine rauere, persönlichere Gefühlspalette, geprägt von Stress, Angst und langen Phasen der Schreibblockade, was ihm eine seltene Unmittelbarkeit und Verletzlichkeit verleiht. Dmitry nahm fast alle Instrumente selbst auf, das Schlagzeug stammt von Jonathan (Spira Me, Vanskapth, Olycka). Bladee steuerte den Gesang bei und war Co-Autor der Texte zu "Eternal Martyr", eine unerwartete Zusammenarbeit, die eine intuitive Chemie offenbart. VS--55 und Varg2Ö fügen abstrakte Samples und subtile Texturdesigns hinzu, die "Morning Star" seine unverwechselbare Körnigkeit und analoge Wärme verleihen, während James Ginzburg (Emptyset, Osmium) sich um das finale Mastering kümmerte und die dynamische Tiefe und atmosphärische Fülle verstärkte. Mehrere Tracks greifen früheres Material mit neuen Perspektiven wieder auf. ,Wänderer" und ,Drömsang" wurden teilweise neu aufgenommen oder komplett neu interpretiert. Intensive, treibende Passagen kollidieren mit spärlichen, kontemplativen Zwischenspielen und erzeugen eine Landschaft, die sowohl viszeral als auch eindringlich ist. Themen wie Isolation und Wanderschaft tauchen in "Wänderer" auf, traumhafte Melancholie in ,Drömsang", existenzielle Kämpfe in "Angest" und Reflexionen über Zeit und Transformation in "Three winters away". Mit "Morning Star" verbindet Kekht Aräkh vergangene Erkundungen mit neuer kollaborativer Energie und produziert ein Album, das die Black-Metal-Tradition der 90er Jahre würdigt und gleichzeitig Lo-Fi-Wärme, melancholische Melodien, klangliche Experimente und emotionale Offenheit umfasst. Das Ergebnis ist ein zutiefst persönliches Statement - ein Album, das sowohl eine Ankunft als auch eine Fortsetzung seiner künstlerischen Reise darstellt.

"Morning Star" zeigt Kekht Aräkh auf dem Weg zu einer authentischeren, verfeinerten Version seiner selbst. Das Album wurde in Berlin und Stockholm aufgenommen und entstand in einer Phase intensiven persönlichen und künstlerischen Wachstums. Es verbindet aggressive Black-Metal-Passagen mit immersiven, strukturierten Klanglandschaften, die sowohl intim als auch weitläufig wirken. Seit seinen Anfängen in Mykolajiw, Ukraine, hat Dmitry (alias Crying Orc), der alleinige Kopf hinter dem Projekt, einen unverwechselbaren Weg innerhalb des Black Metal gesucht. Diese Vision entfaltete sich durch sein Debütalbum "Through the Branches to Eternity EP" (2018) und die Alben "Night & Love" (2018) und "Pale Swordsman" (2021), die eine charakteristische Spannung zwischen wildem, viszeralem Black Metal und zarten, introspektiven Balladen etablierten. Auf "Morning Star" erreicht diese Dynamik eine neue Tiefe. Das Album entstand in einer Phase künstlerischer Klarheit und erkundet eine rauere, persönlichere Gefühlspalette, geprägt von Stress, Angst und langen Phasen der Schreibblockade, was ihm eine seltene Unmittelbarkeit und Verletzlichkeit verleiht. Dmitry nahm fast alle Instrumente selbst auf, das Schlagzeug stammt von Jonathan (Spira Me, Vanskapth, Olycka). Bladee steuerte den Gesang bei und war Co-Autor der Texte zu "Eternal Martyr", eine unerwartete Zusammenarbeit, die eine intuitive Chemie offenbart. VS--55 und Varg2Ö fügen abstrakte Samples und subtile Texturdesigns hinzu, die "Morning Star" seine unverwechselbare Körnigkeit und analoge Wärme verleihen, während James Ginzburg (Emptyset, Osmium) sich um das finale Mastering kümmerte und die dynamische Tiefe und atmosphärische Fülle verstärkte. Mehrere Tracks greifen früheres Material mit neuen Perspektiven wieder auf. ,Wänderer" und ,Drömsang" wurden teilweise neu aufgenommen oder komplett neu interpretiert. Intensive, treibende Passagen kollidieren mit spärlichen, kontemplativen Zwischenspielen und erzeugen eine Landschaft, die sowohl viszeral als auch eindringlich ist. Themen wie Isolation und Wanderschaft tauchen in "Wänderer" auf, traumhafte Melancholie in ,Drömsang", existenzielle Kämpfe in "Angest" und Reflexionen über Zeit und Transformation in "Three winters away". Mit "Morning Star" verbindet Kekht Aräkh vergangene Erkundungen mit neuer kollaborativer Energie und produziert ein Album, das die Black-Metal-Tradition der 90er Jahre würdigt und gleichzeitig Lo-Fi-Wärme, melancholische Melodien, klangliche Experimente und emotionale Offenheit umfasst. Das Ergebnis ist ein zutiefst persönliches Statement - ein Album, das sowohl eine Ankunft als auch eine Fortsetzung seiner künstlerischen Reise darstellt.

"Morning Star" zeigt Kekht Aräkh auf dem Weg zu einer authentischeren, verfeinerten Version seiner selbst. Das Album wurde in Berlin und Stockholm aufgenommen und entstand in einer Phase intensiven persönlichen und künstlerischen Wachstums. Es verbindet aggressive Black-Metal-Passagen mit immersiven, strukturierten Klanglandschaften, die sowohl intim als auch weitläufig wirken. Seit seinen Anfängen in Mykolajiw, Ukraine, hat Dmitry (alias Crying Orc), der alleinige Kopf hinter dem Projekt, einen unverwechselbaren Weg innerhalb des Black Metal gesucht. Diese Vision entfaltete sich durch sein Debütalbum "Through the Branches to Eternity EP" (2018) und die Alben "Night & Love" (2018) und "Pale Swordsman" (2021), die eine charakteristische Spannung zwischen wildem, viszeralem Black Metal und zarten, introspektiven Balladen etablierten. Auf "Morning Star" erreicht diese Dynamik eine neue Tiefe. Das Album entstand in einer Phase künstlerischer Klarheit und erkundet eine rauere, persönlichere Gefühlspalette, geprägt von Stress, Angst und langen Phasen der Schreibblockade, was ihm eine seltene Unmittelbarkeit und Verletzlichkeit verleiht. Dmitry nahm fast alle Instrumente selbst auf, das Schlagzeug stammt von Jonathan (Spira Me, Vanskapth, Olycka). Bladee steuerte den Gesang bei und war Co-Autor der Texte zu "Eternal Martyr", eine unerwartete Zusammenarbeit, die eine intuitive Chemie offenbart. VS--55 und Varg2Ö fügen abstrakte Samples und subtile Texturdesigns hinzu, die "Morning Star" seine unverwechselbare Körnigkeit und analoge Wärme verleihen, während James Ginzburg (Emptyset, Osmium) sich um das finale Mastering kümmerte und die dynamische Tiefe und atmosphärische Fülle verstärkte. Mehrere Tracks greifen früheres Material mit neuen Perspektiven wieder auf. ,Wänderer" und ,Drömsang" wurden teilweise neu aufgenommen oder komplett neu interpretiert. Intensive, treibende Passagen kollidieren mit spärlichen, kontemplativen Zwischenspielen und erzeugen eine Landschaft, die sowohl viszeral als auch eindringlich ist. Themen wie Isolation und Wanderschaft tauchen in "Wänderer" auf, traumhafte Melancholie in ,Drömsang", existenzielle Kämpfe in "Angest" und Reflexionen über Zeit und Transformation in "Three winters away". Mit "Morning Star" verbindet Kekht Aräkh vergangene Erkundungen mit neuer kollaborativer Energie und produziert ein Album, das die Black-Metal-Tradition der 90er Jahre würdigt und gleichzeitig Lo-Fi-Wärme, melancholische Melodien, klangliche Experimente und emotionale Offenheit umfasst. Das Ergebnis ist ein zutiefst persönliches Statement - ein Album, das sowohl eine Ankunft als auch eine Fortsetzung seiner künstlerischen Reise darstellt.

In 2025, Off The Grid celebrated 10 years of existence, throwing several events throughout the world.

It's now time to put a seal on these celebrations with a curation of music, gathering old and new faces orbiting the OTG galaxy, divided into two compilations.

For Part 1, deeper and deeper we go, focusing on delicate aesthetics and dubby grooves, trippy sounds and dreamy atmospheres. A soundtrack for early mornings and initial stages of the night.

Off The Grid was born around this sound and this is a tribute to it.

Part 2 will be announced in Spring.

Stay tuned!

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Mastering & Lacquer Cut by Marco Pellegrino at Analogcut Mastering Studio Berlin
Graphic Design by Guillaume De Ubeda
Pressed at Mother Tongue in Verona

'Like the sharpshooting carnival contestant who knows that the winning practice isn’t to aim for the red star itself, but rather to shoot out a perimeter around the star and thus remove it, Old Saw have historically dealt with forms by tracing their boundaries rather than going for the target outright. If the first three records hinted at but never touched song-shaped forms, The Wringing Cloth makes at least glancing contact while retaining the layered haze and drawl that threads their sound together.
'Contrary to the often-used ambient tag, Old Saw shows up here in a markedly active and sculpted form — manipulating, unwinding, and pivoting with a strange and warped precision. What has always been uncanny about this music is that it arrives in a state at once familiar and obscured, like a memory weighed down with sensory information but no identifying details to place it.
'The Wringing Cloth walks off further into that geographical dream without time or language until it’s just a speck of light.'

In a sharp-angled, fiercely inventive reflection on the nature of club culture and digital fatigue, Simo Cell and Abdullah Miniawy reunite to deliver their new album, Dying is the internet, to Dekmantel's UFO series.

French producer Simo Cell has blazed a singular path from his dubstep-influenced origins to become a leading light in contemporary leftfield club music, twisting up adventurous rhythms and flamboyant production in pursuit of a perpetual freshness for the floor. Egyptian singer, poet, producer and composer Abdullah Miniawy has become equally omnipresent in the past 10 years, straddling the arts world and leading with his piercing Arabic lyricism while maintaining an eternally curious spirit that leads into open-ended, experimental music from the abstract to the propulsive.

Following up on their 2020 EP for BFDM, Kill Me Or Negotiate, Miniawy describes their sharply focused new album as "a playful prophecy about the triggers of a new global revolution." Cell considers the title, Dying is the internet, to be a mantra about "how the internet lost its soul," becoming "less about sharing ideas and more about surviving in a digital business ecosystem." Deliberately at odds with the reel-ready two-minute attention span of the average social media surfer (i.e. everyone), the pair set out to make an album that takes its time to reveal nuanced ideas and expressions. Rather than one-note despair for the modern malaise, Cell and Miniawy offer a philosophical reminder that this present moment in the human experience is a temporary phase, no matter how overwhelming it feels.

Dying is the internet finds Miniawy experimenting with auto-tune across the record, while Cell has developed his voice design chops and compositional instincts, moving closer to fully realised song structures without losing the fundamental 'clubbiness' of each track. The result is a cohesive, wildly original kind of heavyweight dance music that slings out hooks left right and centre, from Miniawy's laconic trumpet looming through low-slung 'Reels in 360' and 'Travelling In BCC' to the persistent handclaps that bring 'Living Emojis' to life. Miniawy's poetry explores the power of insistent, repeated phrases in a break from his more typically structured form.

Kenyan powerhouse Lord Spikeheart adds extra snarl to stripped-back, slow-burn opener 'I See The Stadium', but otherwise Dying is the internet is purely the work of Miniawy and Cell casting their considerable chops out into unexplored territory. The results are electric, bound together by a consistent economy of sound that burrows into a shroud of bass-heavy minimalism barely masking Cell's incredibly detailed studio flex. Even the beatless flourish of the Miniawy-produced 'Tear Chime' comes loaded with physicality — a sensory rush at the mid-section of the album bookended by some of the most idiosyncratic club music in recent memory.

Both Simo Cell and Abdullah Miniawy have already proved themselves as fearless innovators across different fields. The strength of their partnership lies in their ability to make space for each other while letting their distinctive sonic identities ring loud and true. Dying is the internet has immediacy and physicality to translate over a soundsystem, but its intricacies are purpose-built for repeat visits and contemplation, unveiling hidden dimensions the deeper you dive into it.

In just five years, The Spy has gone from underground newcomer to one of the most talked-about names in the European electro and EBM dark electro scene. Early releases on Osáre Editions and Mechatronica quickly placed him on the radar of forward-thinking clubs and selectors across Europe. Now landing on Oráculo Records, he presents his most wave-driven and club-oriented material to date: pure, physical electro built for dark rooms and late hours. Driving basslines and sharp machine rhythms—infused with subtle, classic post-punk tension—define a sound that connects the dancefloor with the shadows, drawing clear parallels to artists like L.F.T, Credit 00 or Gesloten Cirkel. This is music made to move bodies without sacrificing attitude—raw, confrontational, and far removed from formulaic club clichés. Five years in, the message is clear: this is not hype, but momentum—an artist fully in command of a modern electro language built for the underground. Presented in ONE-OFF truly limited edition of 300 copies lacquered pressed on 180 gr. high quality solid BLACK vinyl. All tracks have been specially remastered and mastered for vinyl by Daniel Hallhuber at Young and Cold Studios (Germany).

Jack’s House Recordings kick starts 2026 with a brand new VA featuring talent from all corners of the globe, with artists coming from Portugal, to Australia, the USA and Ibiza !

First up is Alex Arnout with “Baby Let You Know” which is another solid production giving punchy and techy energy with a baseline that will wake you right up when it drops in ! It’s dark, edgy, and has a powerful signature sound that is perfect for the big dance floors as well as your underground intimate ones. Alex is no stranger to the imprint, having been the first artist signed to the label which is about to celebrate it’s 10th year as an independent record label.

Next up, we welcome back popular and talented producer Carlo Gambino with “Time Of Need” which takes you through 6 and a half minutes of a lovely gritty underground groove, and vocal snippets of the track title throughout the arrangement with his warm and unmistakable signature sound.

Then we have AMO (um) & Mills with the more minimal track of the VA, “Therapy” This is a stripped back track but instantly memorable after just one listen. Driven by a simple kick, snare, haunting fills and a riding dark baseline, the track also presents a conversation between two Women having a slightly confusing conversation in a therapy session.

Last up, it is a pleasure to introduce and welcome USA’s Jordan Bernardo & Sharktooth from the Tasteless Thieves crew to the label with their excellent collaboration on the track “So Sorry” This is the light on the VA with this massively uplifting infectious groove. The track is giving skippy swinging beats, filtered vocals which tease in and out of the arrangement, and a great energy that takes you back to the early 2000’s era.

In a nut shell, this fresh Jacks Tracks VA offers 4 unique tracks that can serve any DJ at various points of the night, from warming up, a hands up moment, 3am pushing energy, and a perfect afterparty vibe too. That is always the aim with the Jacks Track VA series, to give vinyl buyers a bit of everything while maintaining talent and the nature of the underground.

'Matsuli Music is proud to announce the first vinyl reissue of Philip Tabane’s Sangoma ("Spiritual Healer") since its 1978 release. Remastered from the original tapes with lacquers cut by Frank Merrit and pressed on 180g heavyweight vinyl at Pallas in Germany, this definitive edition re-asserts the power of one of South Africa’s landmark recordings. Featuring new liner notes by cultural critic Kwanele Sosibo and artwork restoration by Siemon Allen, Sangoma returns in full force through an extended Malombo line-up, fronted by Tabane's spellbinding guitar - ancestral, timeless, and unbound.
'Philip Tabane (1934–2018), the mercurial guitar genius of South African music, forged a sound that was as rooted in the spirit world as it was in daily life. With the Malombo Jazzmen of the 1960s, Tabane disrupted Western notions of “jazz,” bringing the resonant rhythm of cowhide malombo drums into the foreground. While outsiders and the uninitiated often reached for labels like “primitive yet sophisticated,” Tabane and his collaborators named it more truthfully: “music of the spirit.”
'By the time of Sangoma, Tabane stood at a crossroads. Fresh from a period of three years’ touring in the United States where he graced the Newport Jazz Festival, and played alongside Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Pharoah Sanders and others, he brushed off comparisons with characteristic self-assurance: “No, I don’t play like Miles. Miles plays like me.” Back home in South Africa, and with a newly signed international distribution deal with WEA Records, he harnessed this momentum into a larger band setting, capturing a rare intensity.
'The result was Sangoma—an album that bridges contradictions: expansive yet intimate, celebratory yet haunted by exile and return. Tracks such as “Sangoma,” “Hi Congo,” and “Keya Bereka” are not simply performances but living testaments, songs that would remain in his repertoire for decades. Unlike the moody, immersive character of much of his work, here Tabane is on the move—urgent, restless, uncontainable. As he announces on the second track, “Maskanta wa tsamaya” (“something that kicks ass”).
More than four decades on, Sangoma is both an historical document and a timeless invocation. From his home in Mamelodi to the world and back again, Tabane’s spiritual healing endures—raw, electric, and unbowed.'