quête:pro t o n

‘In Virus Times’ is an acoustic instrumental piece by Lee Ranaldo.
Composed during the pandemic, ‘In Virus Times’ is released as a onesided LP with an etching on Side B. The cover is a beautiful photo by
Lee’s friend, the great Brazilian photographer Anna Paula Bogaciovas.
 Originally released as one track as part of a collaboration with Lucien
Jean for Le Presses du Reel, the music was featured on a mini CD that
accompanied a book that featured two short stories.
 ‘In Virus Times’, released by Mute, sees the track transformed into 4
pieces and is available on transparent turquoise vinyl with digital
download and an exclusive poster, designed, signed and individually
numbered by Lee Ranaldo. The poster design is based on an electron
microscope photo of the COVID-19 molecule.
 Lee has written some of his own ‘loner notes’ for the release:
 “This recording began on an evening in September 2020, stuck at home
in lower Manhattan during the dark days of the Covid-19 pandemic as
we came out of a deadly summer. A heightened sense of anxiety
stemming from the then-upcoming US Presidential elections as well as
the virus seemed to pervade all aspects of life, for myself and everyone I
knew. Its minimal quality reflects the sense of ‘motionless time’ that
many of us felt. I set up some microphones in our darkened living room
(studios being closed due to Covid restrictions), coaxing out one simple,
repetitive phrase, and then another, sounding them out into the air. The
casual home ambience - a siren or truck rumbling down the street out
the window; someone talking around the table in another part of the loft;
water running - intrudes at points. I worked to develop a few simple
thematic elements, but mostly I wanted to hear the notes and chords
ringing out, hanging in the air for a long time on that evening when the
world seemed close to stopped on its axis.
 “I’d been listening closely to Morton Feldman’s catalog throughout the
pandemic. His sparse, long-duration music could often be heard playing
on repeat as we spent endless days locked inside. His willingness to do
very little, with very simple elements, and to such profound effect, has
been inspirational. I found the vast open spaces in his works thrilling,
miraculous, and comforting in those empty times. Additionally, the Drop
D guitar tuning used here has prompted my own variations on Bach’s
works for solo cello, open strings droning against melodic lines, so
simple and perfect…” - Lee Ranaldo, New York City, August 2021

The latest release from Jazz Room is a tribute to the legendary pianist Tenorio Jr. by Cult J-Jazzers 45 Trio, and is their tribute to the Mystery Man who spearheaded Brazilian samba jazz.

Side-A features a cover of 'Nebulosa', released in 1964 and still regarded as a pinnacle of piano jazz, approached in a manner unique to 45 Trio. With delicate touch, profound performance and arrangement, they breathe new life into this classic. It get's really Funky halfway through too, watch the Jazz Dancers take the lead on this one!

Side-A '#Tenorio' was crafted as an homage to his work. Light rhythms intertwine with sophisticated chord progressions, creating a groove that fuses jazz and samba with a contemporary Dance Floor feel.

Artist, painter, curator Leo Vincent, is fired up off the back of supporting Soulwax, on their recent Paris and Netherlands shows. Proudly presenting two debut songs “Hello it’s me again” and “Loving isn’t easy”, co-produced with the brothers, David & Stephen Dewaele, of Soulwax/2manydjs.

Seven years ago, Leo Vincent bluffed his way into a video editing job at DEEWEE. Despite being told to not touch or ruin their gear, he later resurfaced with demos that sounded like he had anyway.

"Don’t know much about history”
"Don’t know much about biographies"

But we do know that by the time Leo Vincent arrives in your town, he will probably have destroyed two more Tascam 8-tracks.

Brussels-based, failed goalkeeper-turned-painter-turned-cameraman-turned-musician Leo, doesn’t seem to be afraid to leave his faders in the red zone for an unorthodox period of time while repairing the pitch knob. Some say it’s disco for night janitors. Some say it’s glam-rock for ravers. Others haven’t found the time to listen yet because they have real jobs.

But to fully grasp Leo Vincent's essence, imagine yourself sitting in the home cinema of the late Marc Bolan while watching a documentary on Scatman John, directed by Jacques Tati and scored by Ween, using only the instruments of Cabaret Voltaire.

Following his debut on ICONYC in late 2024, Italian producer Daniel Tagliaferri returns to the label as Ivory with "Want", a four-part suite that deepens his sonic language and sharpens his emotional vocabulary.

With a precise command of space, rhythm, and tension, "Want" feels less like a follow-up and more like a statement of intent, one that situates Ivory among the most sensitive sculptors of the modern dancefloor.

With this new LP, i had Discover a new mindset into the composition and try to explore some new ways i never explore..
Thanks to my family and friends for the unconditional support, after my 10 Years break in the Music industry.

// PRODUCED BY MORGAN TOMAS
// MIXED BY MORGAN TOMAS
// MASTERED BY TIM VITEK
// ARTWORK BY VORACE

New Japanese Ambient Electronica from Tokyo

Composing primarily with the piano, Kotaro Maruyama creates music for a variety of visual media, including commercials and short films. Influenced by the composer Toru Takemitsu, he places importance on the “silence” and "ambience" of sound, aiming to create works where the music quietly depicts a scene.

Kotaro Maruyama's first solo album, "Vapor Curve," is constructed entirely from the sound source of the OP-Z digital synthesizer. Notably, he avoids the concept of harmony for a single tone, instead pursuing a unique "woven harmony" created by intricately layering multiple independent melodies. Using only the OP-Z, and recording everything in a single take without using a computer, Kotaro Maruyama's "Vapor Curve" is distinguished by its uncompromising production style. The minimalist melodies that are layered to create an ambient soundscape, along with the incidental noise that gives an organic texture to the inorganic electronic sound, showcase the raw appeal of sound that is imperfect."

Originally scheduled for release September 2025, this album faced delays due to a series of errors involving the distributor, pressing plant, and cutting engineer. However, earlier this year, Personal Affair teamed up with a new distributor, Rubadub, who introduced them new pressing plant, allowing them to restart the entire pressing process from scratch. Emerging from Tokyo via Glasgow, this release is now ready to deliver a fresh sound to the world."

On edit imprint Disco Mind's 10th release, they hand over the reins to iconic Italian DJ, producer and remixer Beppe Loda, once resident DJ at influential rural club Typhoon during the 1980s. It's that period - where he embraced the disco-rock and Afro-cosmic sounds being played by contemporary Daniele Baldelli - that inspired the four scalpel jobs on show. 'Mr Rocket' is a chugging chunk of oddball early 80s cosmic rock headiness, while 'Tu Sei' sees Loda rework what sounds like a synth-laden fusion of space rock and intergalactic jazz-funk. On side B, he does a great job on spiralling, big hair-sporting disco-rock number 'Falling', before showcasing more spacey synths and chugging rock riffs on 'Marzio'.

Audience’ was a 14-track record that signalled a shift back to Hayes Bradley's dancefloor roots. It was a collision of breakbeats, trip-hop, and ambient textures that perfectly balanced nostalgia and forward-thinking sounds, and now it gets spun into all new worlds by some of the scene's most acclaimed contemporary stars.

Special Request, aka UK powerhouse Paul Woolford, has shaken up the scene with his thrilling mix of jungle, bass, techno, rave, and hardcore in recent years. The hugely prolific producer knows exactly how to blow up the club and does that here with two reworks of '& I Love U'. The Special Request Extended Mix is a meticulously crafted jungle workout, featuring precision drums, rising synth tension, and gorgeous melodies that dart throughout and will appear on the vinyl release only. The VIP version focuses more on celestial memories for a heavenly escape.

Next is Shanti Celeste, a house and garage favourite who crafts emotional, high-impact sounds on her own Peach Discs. Her remix of 'Play It As It Lay' is a bubbly, soft-focus, late-night sound with earworm synth motifs and rich bass that sinks you in deep for a nice, heady trip.

Piori is an alias of Canadian musician Francis Latreille, who has built a sprawling discography full of hyper-detailed techno steeped in science fiction and fantasy. He flips 'Awareness' into a zoned-out affair, with broken beats and cosmic synth waves over a bold bassline that shows, once again, why his productions are in such demand.

Last but not least is Kaifeng-born sound artist, DJ, and producer Yu Su, whose truly unique sound has made her a cult underground star. She flips 'Dear Treasure' into a slow motion and sleazy chugger with dark disco energy and raw live drums, shady vocal loops and otherworldly melodies that seep into your consciousness.

Some 15 years into the label's story, Japanese deep house minimalist Sasaki Hiroaki continues to offer up EPs rich in ultra-deep ambient chords, hushed and hypnotic beats, and the kind of beautiful musical touches that have always been a key part of Japanese deep house culture. Opener 'Geograph' sees him place echoing piano motifs and pulsing ambient electronics atop a sparse tech-house groove, while 'Projection' is a deliciously deep, dreamy and shuffling slab of ambient house excellence. Over on side B, 'Do It (repeat)' is a spaced-out chunk of minimalist dub techno goodness and title track 'The Last Bohemian' is a warming and meditative dancefloor drift.

That’s a project led by a flamenco guitarist who turns out to be a talented lyricist and singer.
Billy Sharp received early support from Billie Eilish on SoundCloud and later from Nils Hoffman, who fell in love with his toplines. This first glimpse into his musical landscape reveals an intriguing personality, touching contradictions, but beyond that and more simply: a voice, a guitar, and mesmerizing melodies.

We're talking about music that moves, transcends, and resonates with the listener's emotions. All the tracks are elegantly carrying the project's message: introspective and passionately intense.

Billy Sharp unveils "Rose Tint," an EP with a strong identity, destined to be one of those timeless pieces. Billy worked meticulously on each of the 4 tracks composing this debut EP, resulting in an impressive outcome. The first notes of the opening track are sure to captivate anyone with their touching vocals and top lines. The EP builds in intensity with each performance, culminating in "2013," a danceable and nostalgic track.

BAR Musica is happy to come back with its BAR Musica Re-Present catalogue and is even happier to welcome back the Italian legend Ricky Montanari - to confirm the respect and friendship with us.

Ricky Montanari has always been a forward thinking in both his production and sets. The tracks in this H.O.M. Vol II are some unreleased gems produced together with his studio partners Davide Ruberto and Edo Lo Zio in the early 2000 that never got released.

This release is dedicated to all the respect and the gratitude to Ricky, for always be a friend!”

Small Great Things / Small Great Beats returns with a shiny yellow vinyl by Quadrakey - the Summer Vibes EP.

With SGB003, Small Great Things delivers a warm and groove-driven vinyl release from Quadrakey, featuring four carefully crafted cuts designed for both late-night dancefloors and sun-soaked daytime sessions.

The EP opens with A1 Good For You, bringing uplifting, feel-good house energy driven by a steady groove, playful details, and a warm bassline that instantly sets a positive tone on the floor. A2 Feel Alone follows on a deeper and more emotional tip, exploring hypnotic rhythms and moody atmospheres, perfectly suited for intimate club moments and late-night transitions.

Flipping to the B-side, B1 Dancing With You delivers a smooth and infectious flow built around rolling rhythms and subtle melodic touches, balancing elegance with dancefloor functionality. Closing the record, B2 Summer Vibes lives up to its name with sunny chords, relaxed grooves, and an effortless open-air feel, ideal for daytime sessions and sunset sets.

From hypnotic grooves to feel-good summer moods, SGB003 showcases a refined and confident production style, staying true to the Small Great Things philosophy: quality music, pressed on vinyl, made for DJs who value depth, groove, and longevity over short-lived trends.

A solid addition to any record bag, SGB003 captures the essence of modern house music with a classic touch, simple, honest, and effective.

The fourth chapter in the daring XTRICTLY ELEKTRO saga once again pushes the boundaries of the genre.

Volume 4 delivers six powerful cuts that move from timeless electro foundations to futuristic, experimental territories — achieving a perfect balance between precision and raw energy.

This release brings together familiar faces — Parand, ElektroTechnik, EC13, and X-Truder — alongside two new additions: Roi, a DJ and producer recognized for his sharp, detail-driven sound and modern take on electro; and DJ Overdose, the veteran force of Dutch electro.

A tight and cohesive mini-LP that embraces diversity while remaining faithful to the spirit of electro: sharp rhythms, dark atmospheres, and pure machine funk.

Limited to 150 copies. Don’t sleep on this one.

Rob Clouth returns to Mesh with Cicada, a follow-up to his EP earlier this year and a continuation of his ever-curious approach to the outer limits of electronic music.

An artist who has spent much of his career committed to a dialogue between scientific phenomena and music built for big soundsystems, Bichillo signalled a segue into a more free-running idea of creativity - one that didn’t pander to unrealistic expectations and, essentially, brought the fun back to Rob’s production process. A theme also explored in a link-up with long-time collaborator and label boss Max Cooper on their recent joint EP 8 Billion Realities, out now on Mesh.

Cicada, he continues to expand on this universe, prioritising experimentation over concept, and arriving at some of the funnest music he’s ever made.

Like a field of insects, ‘Cicada’ opens with cross-rhythmic layers of animated glitches, soon joined by huge bass swells that gradually build into a maximal tranced out build-up and a swarm of vocal chops. ‘Core’ builds a quietly dramatic symphony of machinist built sound - a soothing polyphony of computers singing. Leaning into an off-kilter 2-step, ‘Gummy Clusters’ swirls into a hazy blur of distorted voices and acoustic rhythms. Closing things off, ‘Grefuser’ puts pedal to the metal with a high BPM storm of pointillist drums and melancholic leads.

Cicada is music that twitches and mutates, but most importantly, breathes fun into the circuitry.

‘Cicada’ lands Friday 20th March via Mesh.

Melodize is bringing the world back on the dance floor with Lauer and his 4-track “K1m Fantasy” EP. Behind the label is Brooklyn-based DJ and musician Beartrax, who is known for his groovy yet moody compositions. Philipp Lauer, known as Lauer, is a true veteran in the electronic music sphere, with over 20 years of experience, yet his sound remains novel and fresh.

This time, Melodize and Lauer shape the world of a fantasy dance floor where everything is possible. “K1m Fantasy” starts with Lauer letting his confidence shine through as an experienced professional with a signature sound in the first track “Boss Electro”, which will inevitably showcase why he’s the boss.

The playful tune of “Rabbits” takes the listener on a journey through electro-induced synths much like the image of curious rabbits playing on a grass field. The eponymous B-side “K1m Fantasy,” with its steadily unfolding mellow soundscape, is an introspective piece exploring the fantastical world of the techno dance floor where all becomes one.

Lauer’s last treat is “Choirs,” where brassy exclamations take turns with a haunting choir of electronic voices, reminding us that unity is key to pleasure and existence.

The second solo chapter in EC13’s trajectory.

Loto Azul (EP) distills EC13’s sonic identity into four focused pieces shaped for the 12″ format: cinematic atmospheres, cosmic resonance, and meticulously crafted rhythmic structures — infused with high-energy dynamics, epic tension, and textured distortions that add depth, grit, and dramatic weight.

From the mystical tension of Astrum Nox (Phase I) to the melodic, ascending narrative of Sinfonía Tercera, the EP moves between introspection and propulsion.
Perdiendo, in both its original version and the Jupiter Rhythms reinterpretation, forms the emotional core of the release — a hybrid between electro, techno, and celestial harmonic design.

A refined work that expands EC13’s role within the Cosmic Tribe universe, reaching toward new sonic dimensions with precision and depth.

Amsterdam-based producer Retromigration makes his debut on the launch of a new Oathcreations imprint "KARAMÜRSELL?" with 'Can't Go', a hyper-kinetic and rapturous piece of dance music sure to ensnare any dancefloor.
Inspired by soul, funk, jazz, and hip-hop, his auditory identity is one of profound melodic effusion and expert percussive sequences, absorbed within life-affirming atmospheres.
'Can't Go' feels like yet another landmark, tuning itself into the pulsating energies of the club, drawing lines between bass music, footwork, garage and jungle.
The EP is completed with 'Distant', featuring fuller harmonies, a tear-jerking chordal line and a spiritual sax solo.

RAWAX proudly presents DJ Hell "Geteert und Gefedert" (2xLP)
We feel very honored to re-issue DJ Hell's first groudbreaking album which came originally out on legendary Disko B in 1994! The 2026 version contains a new mastering , new tracklisting for optimized loudness and a new fantastic artwork.. Don't miss this beauty!

Die brandneue Kollaboration zwischen Freddie Gibbs und The Alchemist, „Alfredo 2”, ist der offizielle Nachfolger der gefeierten „Alfredo”-Veröffentlichung des Duos aus dem Jahr 2020.



Der Rapper Freddie Gibbs wird für sein technisches Können und seine provokanten Texte gelobt und hat sowohl Fans des Gangsta-Rap als auch des Underground-Hip-Hop für sich gewonnen. Er reimt sowohl auf dröhnende Breakbeats als auch auf Trap-Beats und hat mit zahlreichen Rappern und Produzenten zusammengearbeitet, darunter Young Thug, Jeezy, DJ Drama und Statik Selektah. In den 2000er- und frühen 2010er-Jahren machte er sich mit einer Reihe von selbst veröffentlichten Mixtapes einen Namen. Nach seiner ersten offiziell veröffentlichten EP Str8 Killa (2010) begann er, richtige Studioalben zu veröffentlichen, darunter die gut angenommenen Kollaborationen mit Madlib Piñata (2014) und Shadow of a Doubt (2015) sowie You Only Live 2wice (2017). Nach dem kommerziellen Mixtape Freddie (2018) tat er sich für Bandana (2019) wieder mit Madlib zusammen und produzierte mit The Alchemist das Album Alfredo (2020). Letzteres wurde seine erste LP, die die Top 20 der Billboard 200 erreichte und anschließend für einen Grammy Award nominiert wurde.

"HOPES AND DREAMS - Rare & Unreleased Psych-Soul Nuggets from the 1970s" marks the beginning of a new journey of discovery through the music history of the 1970s, which we hope will be just as successful as its predecessor, PRAISE POEMS. Curated by label headman & DJ Tobias Kirmayer.

Mean Field Mutation is a thermodynamic phenomenon occurring just below the vaporization point of voracious growth. It relies on the debris of false and almost forgotten narratives. Astral residue of consumer angst, echoes of obsolete newspeak and oscillations of promotional imbecilities collide with free floating particles hovering under the radar of the megamachine. In steady intervals, this results in a meltdown producing random waves of reconfigurations driven by cryptic but sanguine naivety.
Released on Lustpoderosa, Mean Field Mutation is the first musical output by Des Coda. Written and produced by Piero Scherer during the pandemic winter of 2021 in his bedroom studio in Zurich. Moving between playful
serenity and feral distortion, it was produced by layering sounds from field recordings, radio and TV clips, as wellas sequences from drum machines and analogue synthesizers. Taking a stance against commercial copyright, all stems of this production are available for download free of charge and ready to be reappropriated.
Des Coda is an open field for collaborative, cultural experiments beyond the conventional understanding of authorship and representation. It engages with an artistic position that defines the creative process as an interplay between context and concept. The resulting work is not a rigid product of authoritarian ingenuity, but a sensitive, living organism guided by the tensions between society and individual. Des Coda is the zestful curiosity rummaging through the rubble of the present in search of future aesthetics.

On this album the former "Chasing Clouds" have accumilated into the eponymous "Black Sky"; these drifting soundclouds have swallowed a bulk of Sepalot´s sunny nature; his trademark relaxed attitude gave way to instrumental melancholy and pugnacity. "Before I started recording I listened to lots of The Doors songs. I found the suicidal aspect in their music very exciting. I totally inhaled it." Sepalot reports. "The breakage, the grid, the dirt - that was my inspiration. I was thirsty for the energy of pureness." In order to capture this roughness Sepalots first production steps were drafting soundsketches - often more than 100 in a row. This is then is followed by a sorting procees with many drafts going immediately into the trashcan. The survivors create the first basic draft.
There is something waiting in the wings. Don´t fear the storm, come outside with us... "Black Sky" is here.
Clemens Brentano: "These sounds are a wonderfull living breath of darkness"

We Release JAZZ is very happy to announce the limited vinyl edition of Obad’s powerful new album Suspended, a vivid document of the Tehran ensemble’s endlessly evolving sonic universe — now available as a limited LP housed in a heavyweight sleeve with an Obi strip and featuring original artwork by Iranian painter Sadra Baniasadi.
Suspended is a superbly spontaneous, improvisational blend of exploratory jazz fusion, progressive funk-rock, and transcendental groove. Built from lived experience and shaped by Tehran’s pulse, Obad’s music is kinetic and intuitive — an ever-morphing dialogue between rhythm and texture, emotion and message.
With Farid Farzian Pour on drums, Siavash Karimi on electric guitar, Kiarash Radmehr on bass guitar, and Hamidreza Keshavrpajuh (aka Pajuh) on tenor saxophone, Obad creates a soundworld where hypnotic basslines meet thunderous, free-flowing percussion; where searing guitar motifs coil around saxophone phrases that move from whispered invocation to explosive catharsis. Suspended captures the quartet at full creative stretch: alive, unguarded, and deeply attuned to one another.
Sadra Baniasadi’s striking cover painting mirrors the album’s energy — bold, dreamlike, charged with movement, and extending Obad’s world into the visual realm.
Suspended stands as a major statement from one of Iran’s most compelling contemporary ensembles, marking Obad’s first release on We Release JAZZ and continuing the label’s commitment to boundary-pushing music born from profound listening, place, and collective intuition.

The new label opens its first chapter with a collaboration between Elisa Batti (label founder) and Isabel Soto, two artists who have been working together for some time. Their debut release balances precision, atmosphere, and texture, bridging club-ready energy with immersive listening experiences.

Founded in March 2026 in Amsterdam, the label reflects Elisa's musical vision, moving from deep, driving techno to experimental and ambient territories. Each release is carefully curated, emphasizing coherence, attention to detail, and long-term artistic impact.

This first record sets the tone for the label's direction, intentional, focused, and defined by a strong musical identity. It's both a statement and a starting point, marking the beginning of a journey that will explore bold sonic landscapes while maintaining clarity and depth.

Release date: March 20, 2026
Written & produced by: Elisa Batti & Isabel Soto
Mastering by:Conor Dalton at GLowcast Mastering

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.

Gatefold Sleeve

M’Bamina – African Roll (1975)
The story of an album born between Africa, Italy, and the nightclub culture of the 1970s
In the heart of 1970s Italy — a country undergoing profound social change and a music scene just beginning to open itself to distant sounds and cultures — an extraordinary, almost improbable story took shape. It is the story of a group of young African musicians who found their way to Europe, of a Turin nightclub that became a crossroads for communities and experimenters, and of an album which, released in small numbers and largely unnoticed at the time, is now considered a rare jewel of Afro-fusion.
The band called themselves M’Bamina — an ensemble of musicians from Congo, Cameroon, and Benin, who arrived in Italy in the early Seventies. Settling between northern Italy and the Pavia area, they began performing in small clubs and community events, bringing with them a vibrant rhythmic heritage: African polyrhythms, call-and-response vocals, funk-infused bass lines, and Caribbean or Afro-Latin colours absorbed along their musical journeys. Their raw, contagious energy on stage quickly drew attention.
Meanwhile, in Turin, another story was unfolding. There was a venue becoming almost legendary: Voom Voom, one of the city’s liveliest nightclubs, run by Ivo Lunardi. The club attracted an eclectic crowd — students, artists, foreigners, night owls — and Lunardi quickly understood that the dancefloor wasn’t just a place for music, but a melting pot for a new kind of cultural energy. Out of this vibrant atmosphere came his idea: to turn the club’s name into a small independent record label, Voom Voom Music, capable of capturing the spirit of those years and giving voice to unconventional projects.

When Lunardi heard M’Bamina, he immediately sensed that this was the sound he had been searching for: fresh, different from anything circulating in Italy at the time, and capable of blending African tradition with funk and European sensibility. He brought them into the studio.
Production was handled by Lunardi along with Christian Carbaza Michel, while the engineering was entrusted to Danilo Pennone, a young sound technician with a sharp, intuitive ear.
The recording sessions — held in Turin in 1975 — produced a remarkably warm and direct sound. The music feels almost live: grooves rooted in African tradition, but open to funk-rock structures and modern arrangements. It is a natural fusion, never forced. Tracks move between tribal rhythms, funk basslines, light electric guitars, congas and Afro-Latin percussion, with call-and-response vocals and melodies that echo both Congolese tradition and the lineage of Latin jazz. Not by chance, one of the album’s most striking tracks, Watchiwara, reinterprets a Latin standard through M’Bamina’s own rhythmic language.

The album was titled African Roll — a name that was already a statement of intention. It is African music that “rolls,” that moves, adapts, transforms within a new geographic and cultural setting. It is not strictly Afrobeat, nor Congolese rumba, nor Western funk: it is a spontaneous, hybrid blend, shaped more by lived experience than by any calculated aesthetic program.
When African Roll was released, the world around it barely noticed. Distribution was limited, and 1970s Italy had yet to develop a cultural framework for receiving such music. The national music press rarely paid attention to African or “world” productions. The album slipped into silence — though the band’s own story did not.

M’Bamina continued performing across Europe and Africa, even sharing a stage in Cameroon with none other than Manu Dibango. By the late Seventies, they moved to Paris, signed with Fiesta/Decca, and recorded a second LP, Experimental (1978). Meanwhile, the peculiar record they had made in Turin began to resurface quietly among vinyl collectors, Afro-funk enthusiasts, and DJs hunting for forgotten grooves.
That is when the album’s fate began to shift.

Over the decades, African Roll emerged as an almost unique document: a snapshot of an intercultural Italy before the word “intercultural” even existed, a fragment of migrant history, a spontaneous experiment in musical fusion born far from major industry circuits but rich in authenticity. Original copies began commanding high prices on the collector’s market, and the album became recognized as one of the hidden classics of European Afro-fusion from the 1970s.
Today, more than fifty years later, this reissue finally restores visibility and dignity to a project that deserves to be heard, studied, and celebrated. It is not simply an album: it is the testimony of a rare cultural encounter, born in an Italy unaware of how fertile such exchanges would one day become.

It is the story of a visionary producer, an extraordinary band, and a fleeting moment in which music, migration, and nightlife came together to create something genuinely new.
African Roll is — now more than ever — the sound of a bridge: between continents, between eras, between cultures. A record that, after rolling far and wide, has finally come home.

Somewhere long ago in a vinyl galaxy near you We Play House Recordings released an E.P. called ‘This Is Still Belgium Vol 1’. The release was called like that because the music on it could only have been made by Belgians. Vol 2 never happened…until now. Label boss Red D has always been inspired by the rich Belgian club music of the 90’s and inevitably those influences have sneaked into his own productions, but never as clear as on the three tracks you are reading about now.

And so the original WPH series has been revived with WPH 024.5, aptly called ‘This Is Still Belgium Vol 2’. The music is situated somewhere between house, progressive house and early trance music, basically club music with soul & melody at its core.

On the A-side we find Red D teaming up with his friend Mona Lee, a soul sister who has been making waves in recent years in soulful house circles and who comes up with the vocal prowess to match Red D’s emotional trip of a track and heartfelt lyrics. Can you handle the break?

The B-side opens up with ‘Tides’, a deep hypnotic builder for late night eyes-closed dance floors and closes with ‘Papillon’, a track that came to life long ago in the minds of Telepaticos (Marcos Salon & Sandro Valcke). When Red D heard a demo version of this one the melody got stuck in his head and never really left him. Many moons later he rediscovered the parts of this one on a hard drive and got to work on his interpretation that features on this E.P. Safe to say the track holds a special place in Red D’s heart and we’re sure you’ll feel it as well!

Marcus Paulson returns to MOS with four cuts of raw, emotive jacking house from Manchester to Amsterdam. Carefully selected and road tested by Aroy Dee we got a mix of good vibe melodies with a proper 90s warehouse feel.

Renowned party DJ, producer and collector The Gaff deals in all sorts of global grooves and here links up with Caleb Hart, who was born in Tobago and is now based on the west coast of Canada. They collide their vast inspirations into a global bass banger inspired by years of crate digging. 'Let's Build' is a big sound with big drums, dark synth grooves and hooky future soul as well as a sleazy vocal. Calypso, bass house and a dark piano all collide in HD colour. The instrumental is no slouch either, and both of these are sure to bring the heat this winter and beyond.

Helena Hauff's Return To Disorder keeps it disordered with legendary producer DeFeKT next up with his vision of twisted electro. 'My Mother' has a dark undercurrent but is doused in synth radiance that provides great comfort, so if you ask us, it's a fitting title. It's texture that again stands out on 'Disastrous Infinity which has a squelch, acidic lead wriggling about the mix, pounding drums and crispy percussion that all pull back to reveal pixel-thin and eerie pads. 'No Coffee' is a dense and gauzy world of ice-cold melody and rigid grooves, and 'Soaked' turns the same vibe up to 11. 'Phaser' and 'Early Morning Tea' close out with opposing energies - raw and prickly, then more smooth and serene.

GRAMMY-prämierte Rap-Ikone Nas und DJ Premier – zwei der einflussreichsten und angesehensten Persönlichkeiten der Hip-Hop-Geschichte – veröffentlichten ihr mit Spannung erwartetes Kollaborationsalbum „Light-Years“ am 12. Dezember digital über Mass Appeal Nach den limitierten Day Ones Editionen gibt es nun die regulären Editionen mit Artwork, ab 20. Februar 2026.

Nach jahrzehntelanger Vorfreude ist „Light-Years“ die Wiedergeburt einer 30-jährigen Zusammenarbeit. Die Partnerschaft von Nas und DJ Premier ist tief in der DNA des Hip-Hop verwurzelt. Ihre Geschichte begann 1994 mit „Illmatic“, das Hits wie „N.Y. State Of Mind“, „Memory Lane“ und „Represent“ hervorbrachte. „Illmatic“ etablierte Nas als Ausnahmetalent und festigte Premiers damals aufstrebende Karriere. Ihre musikalische Chemie vertiefte sich im Laufe des folgenden Jahrzehnts durch Klassiker wie „I Gave You Power“, „2nd Childhood“, „Nas Is Like“ und „N.Y. State Of Mind Pt. II“.

Angeführt von Mass Appeals bahnbrechender Reihe „Legend Has It…“, die einige der wichtigsten und einflussreichsten Hip-Hop-Künstler aller Zeiten feiert und ins Rampenlicht rückt, präsentierte die Reihe ein ganzes Jahr lang historische Veröffentlichungen von Kultur prägenden Künstlern wie Slick Rick, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Mobb Deep, Big L und De La Soul. Mit „Light-Years“ liefern Nas und DJ Premier den krönenden Abschluss dieser legendären Reihe, in der ihre unbestreitbare Synergie nach wie vor einzigartig ist.

2006 zierten Nas und DJ Premier das Cover des Scratch Magazine und kündigten ein gemeinsames Projekt an, das die Begeisterung der Fans erneut entfachte und die zwei Jahrzehnte währende Vorfreude beflügelte. Letztes Jahr taten sich Nas und Premier zusammen, um das 30-jährige Jubiläum von „Illmatic“ mit der Veröffentlichung des neuen Tracks „Define My Name“ zu feiern, mit dem sie erstmals ihr wegweisendes Kollaborationsalbum ankündigten.

„Light-Years“ ist ein wahrer Beweis für den Einfluss beider Künstler, ihr Vermächtnis und die Zeitlosigkeit ihrer gemeinsamen Musik.

NUTRIA Sounds proudly welcomes Leo Kal to the family with his debut EP, The Roots EP (NUTRIA 004). Across five tracks, Leo Kal delivers a deeply musical statement—grounded, expressive, and rich with intention—perfectly aligning with what NUTRIA Sounds continues to cultivate: organic sound, essential rhythm, and soulful movement.

The Roots EP showcases Leo Kal’s true musicianship, blending groove, harmony, and texture into a body of work that feels both timeless and forward-thinking. Each track is driven by feel and craft, emphasizing connection over excess and allowing the music to breathe naturally on the dancefloor and beyond.
Celba opens the EP with an uplifting, bouncy groove—light on its feet yet firmly rooted, setting a joyful and inviting tone.

Station Verlaine soars effortlessly, carried by smooth, flowing keys that glide across a warm, rhythmic foundation. Roots, the EP’s title track, shines with warm piano lines and earthy percussion, embodying the spirit and intention behind the project.

Round 50 delivers the EP’s most club-friendly moment, channeling a spacey, late-’90s feel with a modern, refined touch.

Second Eyes closes the EP on a downtempo, junglesque note, wrapping the listener in texture and atmosphere while leaving them wanting more.

With this release, NUTRIA Sounds continues its mission to highlight nutrient sounds for the soul and the feet—music that is honest, rooted, and deeply connected. Leo Kal’s debut stands as a confident and inspired entry into the catalog, reinforcing the label’s commitment to artistry, balance, and musical integrity.

Father Sheed steps up to deliver a saucy meze for M.A.D Records sixteenth outing, following the groove-laden "Pancumbia" for A MAD 5 Years compilation!! The Austin, Texas based producer brings 5-tracks to ignite the discotheque with quirky sampling, punchy drum grooves and immaculate synth-scapes!

Simina Grigoriu returns to DCLTD with an EP 'Divine Assignment', delivering 4 brand new techno tracks. Divine Assessment - dub techno roller made for building atmosphere throughout the first stanza of DJ sets. Layers of Reality - slick slice of techno that mixes up dreamy synths with propulsive percussion. Love Honey - soulful techno as its finest, a cut with plenty of heart and warmth that makes an excellent bridging track to shift between moods. Shatter Pattern - a perky slab of deep techno with plenty of soul that works in the sunshine and club alike.

Unreleased Records is the label founded by Arodes, recognized for its afro-house, melodic, and club-oriented sound within the international electronic music landscape. Through a combination of high-quality productions, a strong and carefully developed artist roster, and an expanding live platform, Unreleased Records positions itself as a forward-thinking imprint that bridges underground credibility with international audience reach, and are now, after much demand, debuting on vinyl, with this standout 4 tracker EP with 3 tried and tested club bangers, and 1 unreleased gem.


So far, “Gwele,” “Don’t Mind,” and “Nothing’s Changed” have already been supported by heavyweights of the scene, including, Ante Perry, Black Coffee, Bluckther, Camilo Franco, Carl Bee, Chus & Ceballos (Ceballos), Cincity, Deer Jade, Djuma Soundsystem, Enoo Napa, Facundo Mohrr, Hyenah, Jonathan Kaspar, Joseph Capriati, Mauricio Brigante, Moeaike, Nicolas Masseyeff, Queen Rami, Sasha Carassi, Simone Vitullo, THEMBA, and Xinobi.

More classic 90s hip hop from the 5 Boroughs, with the original sample source used on the B-side. First time on 45 for both tunes!

The label Erdgeschoss celebrates the freedom of sound and vision at the bar of life, like football – only with a bass drum instead of a ball. And with beer. Because even with vinyl records, the ball has to go in the net.

Pop Vampires Cologne will kick things off; their surrealist debut masterpiece, Karianne, was already released at Total 25 last year. PVC lives up to its name. Like vampires, oskø and Wassermann once again sample their way through the pop supermarket of unlimited possibilities.
Almost overnight, in their illegal, digital garage, they clone hybrid sound structures, saturated with both foreign and self-injected blood doping. Forbidden fruit is known to taste the best. Consciously, explicitly, and provocatively, PVC explores sampling as an indispensable stylistic device, a universal tool for quotation and pop networking. Equally daring and respectfully irreverent, they oppose the new, all-disenchanting AI search engines on the internet with the freedom of art. The rest is surrealism. Just like the accompanying video, which isn't a video in the conventional sense, but rather a kind of making-of with Sabine as the main front character. And the digital versions of some tracks may differ slightly from the vinyl versions.
Because: Anything goes…

Das Label Erdgeschoss feiert an der Theke des Lebens die Freiheit von Sound and Vision wie Fussball - nur mit Bassdrum statt Ball. Und mit Bier. Denn auch bei der Schallplatte muss das Runde ins Eckige.

Den Anfang machen Pop Vampires Cologne, deren surrealistisches Debüt-Meisterstück Karianne bereits im letzten Jahr auf der Total 25 erschienen ist. Bei PVC ist der Name Programm. Wie Vampire sampeln sich oskø und Wassermann einmal mehr durch den Pop-Supermarkt der unbegrenzten Möglichkeiten. Quasi über Nacht klonen sie in ihrer illegalen, digitalen Garage hybride Sound-Gebilde, getränkt mit Fremd- und Eigenblutdoping. Verbotene Früchte schmecken bekanntlich am besten. Bewusst, explizit und provokant arbeiten sich PVC am für sie unverzichtbaren Stilmittel des Sampling als universelle Zitat- und Pop-Vernetzungsmaschine ab. Ebenso wagemutig wie respektvoll respektlos, halten sie den neuen, alles entzaubernden K.I. Suchmaschinen im Netz die Freiheit der Kunst entgegen. Der Rest ist Surrealismus. So wie das dazugehörige Video kein Video im herkömmlichen Sinne ist, sondern eine Art Making Off mit Sabine als Frontdarstellerin. Und die digitalen Versionen einiger Stücke sich leicht von den Vinyl Versionen unterscheiden. Denn: Erlaubt ist, was gefällt…

Early Dj plays from Louie Vega, Dj Sneak & Carl Cox!

Brand new vinyl-exclusive music for 2026 from 4 legends of electronic music.

Teachers is a new series from Only Cuts showing love and respect to the architects of our sound.

5th release from the Only Cuts label run by Sydney maestros, Mo’funk & Encee

All new music from these Teachers, Dj Sneak returns with one of his best works in a long time with ‘Hear The Music’ Todd Terry appears under his ‘House of Gypsies’ alias with a horn driven percussive groover. Junior Sanchez with a brilliantly produced Wham flip & The Stanton Warriors come at it with an anthem used in their live sets, appearing for the 1st time on vinyl!

Introducing the 4th instalment of the Pacific Coast House rebirth. We bring back another much sought-after 12” from The Coastal Commission & Jesse Outlaw. “Bring down the Walls” was a nod to Raze’s “Break for Love”, Robert Owens “Bring Down the Walls” and Ritchie Hawtin’s use of the Roland 606 throughout “Sheet One”. Long out of reach and fetching $100+ on Discogs, Atjazz’s freshly remastered editions are finally available .. “Let it Go” was never mastered & only ever cut to dub-plate. It has now been mastered & available in all it’s glory.

Coastal Commission “Bring Down the Walls” “Bring down the Walls” was a nod to Raze’s “Break for Love”, Robert Owens “Bring Down the Walls” and Ritchie Hawtin’s use of the Roland 606 throughout “Sheet One.” We gave the tune a Californian psychedelic twist with conga laden drums, a moody synth, low pulsing 303 patterns + Benjamin Zephaniahs patois call to “Move the Body Rhythmwize!” The first PCH releases had dropped Worldwide to International acclaim from DJ’s far and wide across the Globe with support in London, Paris & New York. However the local scene here in L.A that preached “Love, inclusion & Unity” was anything but that. L.A at that time was very tribal & divided up into 3 camps. If you weren’t affiliated with any of them (aka independent) then you were pretty much locked out of getting any kind of gig support or the Dj’s from those camps actually playing the music. The local feedback from Dj’s was that what we were making wasn’t “house,” but “Techno” which was absurd to me. “Bring Down the Walls” was a mantra to “move the bod”y and in doing so “bring down the walls” of separation not just in L.A but throughout society in general. Thank goodness for support from people like Terry Francis, Eddie Richards, DJ Deep & Philly Stalwart King Britt. After years of copies going for upward of $100+ on Discogs the now freshly remastered copies by At Jazz’s Martin Iveson are finally hitting the platters this Spring.

Jesse Outlaw “Let it Go” I met Jesse at Beatnonstop Records on Melrose Ave with Miguel Placencia in the late 90’s. Miguel (RIP) was a mainstay in the Underground scene and had always been very supportive of my endeavors. He had had success with a huge release on Yellow Orange and was working with Jesse under the moniker “When Worlds Collide.” I signed “Brighter Days” & “Set you Free” from them and released the tracks on my Seductive imprint. They told me that they were making the tracks on a Sony Playstation “Music Now” program and I was like FFS “What.s more Underground than that!?” Later Jesse gave me some of his solo work. The track “Let it Go” was never mastered & only ever cut to Dub-plate and featured on my 1st PCH mix “Pacific Coast House Sounds.” It has now been mastered by Martin Iveson and is available in all it’s glory. The dreamy vocal “You need to let it go” beckons over the top of driving percussive Latin beats and church organ which is a great compliment to the flip side of “Bring down the Walls.” All in all two West Coast stompers now finally available remastered on PCH in Orange vinyl.

Natalie Imbruglia ist Millionen von Menschen mit ihrem weltweiten Hit "Torn" bekannt, einer der bis heute prägendsten Songs der Neunziger. Damit begann eine außergewöhnliche Erfolgsserie, die u.a. 2 BRIT Awards, 3 Grammy-Nominierungen, 8 ARIA Awards und 7 Mio. verkaufte Exemplare ihres Debütalbums "Left Of The Middle" umfasst. In jüngerer Zeit stand sie durch Auftritte an der Seite von Olivia Rodrigo erneut im Rampenlicht. Jetzt ist der perfekte Moment für ein neues Kapitel: ihr neues Album Algorithm mit der Lead-Single "Upside Down".

Algorithm zeigt Natalie Imbruglia in einer neuen Ära – geprägt von Selbstermächtigung, Freiheit und kreativer Erfüllung. Das erste Album der australisch-britischen Pop-Ikone seit fünf Jahren ist eine echte Tour de Force: ein zutiefst persönliches Werk, das eindrucksvoll daran erinnert, warum wir uns ursprünglich in ihre Musik verliebt haben. Es erscheint in einer Zeit, in der sich der kulturelle Zeitgeist wandelt und Popmusik wieder stärker zur Tanzfläche tendiert – mit einer Ausrichtung, die sich an den eleganten Pop-, Disco- und House-Elementen von Robyn orientiert.

Nach dem UK-Top-10-Comeback mit Firebird (2021) meldet sich Natalie Imbruglia auf Algorithm voller Energie und Tatendrang zurück. Sie ist Co-Produzentin und -Autorin jedes Songs, neben namhaften Kollaborateur:innen wie MyRiot (London Grammar), David Sneddon (Lana Del Rey), Fraser T Smith (Adele, Stormzy, Sam Smith), Gary Lightbody von Snow Patrol, Anu Pillai (Lewis Capaldi), Tobie Tripp (George Ezra), Mark Crew (Bastille, James Arthur) und Dan Priddy (Rag’n’Bone Man, Bastille). Im Anschluss an die Veröffentlichung des Albums wird Natalie Imbruglia ausgewählte Festivaltermine spielen und auf Tour gehen.