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For the fourth release on 6dimensions, Steve Bicknell has delved into the catalogue of the Lost Recordings series on his previous imprint; Cosmic.Steve Bicknell's Awakening The Past feature three tracks from Why And For Whom, the first of Bicknell's Lost Recordings releases. Originally released in 1996, Why And For Whom Has been named one of the best UK Techno records of all time with Bicknell being billed as a 'criminally underrated producer'.With the re-release of these tracks in 2017, it is clear to see that the tracks have stood the test of time. All four-tracks on Awakening The Past were previously untitled but have been renamed with a focus on the human condition. With the 6dimensions label being founded on the principles of the 'human mind's natural make-up' it seems a natural decision to rename the tracks to suite the label ethos. Although one quarter of Awakening The Past was released 20 years ago, Bicknell's focus on mood shows coherence between his work then and now. The era of production can be distinguished in the EP, however, this is only eminent through a difference in recording technique. More importantly, the mood of older and newer productions are indistinguishable from each other and display Bicknell's unrelenting dedication to his own focus on concept of aesthetic. Physical Life' opens the EP with a rawness that is carried through the EP. With tape hiss underpinning the track, Bicknell's signature bass grumbles hold together hi-hats which progressively filter in and out over the course of the track. Bicknell's use of filters carries through onto the second track of EP, 'Natural Vibrations' boasts an erratic and high-pitched 303 sequence that shows a bit of experimentalism before the EP steps back into Bicknell's more familiar techno odysseys. 'Fearing The Minds Fears' paints a tense atmosphere, lashings of motoric modular synth are added with little fuss as the track title confirms its significance. Finally, 'Conscious Awakening' drives the EP to a close with dizzying pace: it's here that Bicknell's ability to control the emotion of the listener is really evident.

Optimo Music is delighted to release a first album by Fantastic Twins (formerly known as The Twins). We'll let them tell you the story behind this inspired and beguiling record -
Obakodomo (Au Balcon Du Monde) is a soundtrack I created for a piece of contemporary dance, performed by two dancers for a young audience from the age of 4. It is the story of an imaginary journey in Antartica where two explorers go on an adventure. They encounter a colony of penguins and will progressively learn to understand their habits and respect their environment. Essentially, Au Balcon Du Monde is a metaphor of how to exist next to each other, how to share a territory, how to learn to live together and share resources.
The scenography and stage accessories were designed in a minimalistic and non-obvious form to leave all the space for imagination. The penguins were made of translucent material to provide light effects and were programmed to move in a swaying motion, allowing interaction with the dancers and the music. LED system could be wireless piloted.
With the soundtrack, I wanted to create an atmosphere that would immediately transport the children into this terra nova - a poetical space, like a cold sphere, where the strange meets the frightening and the playful. Translating the immense vs the small, the far-off vs the near, the collective vs the individual, the strange vs the familiar or the cold vs the heat. My intention was to follow the thread of the story in a narrative, yet non-caricatural way. Music for children doesn't have to be 'childish'. Children love to be scared or even just challenged. They love to love and react instantly to what they hear through their emotions. Ultimately, the soundtrack aims to provide different levels of 'reading' so that it becomes something more universal. So we, adults, just have to accept the invitation.

Tidy Line-up including Randomer, Gilb'R, Voiski and Tolouse Low Trax...TIP!
In terms of experimental, techno, very few come close to the impact that this UK producer has had on the scene. With a sound that is rarely classifiable, Randomer's Dekmantel contribution is a staggered, minimally-twisted, dark, kind-of-two step, awesome thing. Versatile Records' Gilb'R has found himself an integral part of the Dutch scene since moving to Amsterdam, and brings forth his organic, percussive grooves that have helped define his music, and label to date. Salon Des Amateurs' Tolouse Low Trax provides a seasoned session of amniotic, grizzled, hypnotic post-everything music, that is eerily discomforting and wonderfully pleasurable at the same time. And on the EP's fourth track, Parisian techno wizard, Voiski adds layered organic, futuristic loops that work to stale the progress of time, and space.
To date the 10-year anniversary series has seen new releases by the likes of The Egyptian Lover, Levon Vincent, Gigi Masin, Fatima Yamaha, Burnt Friedman, and many more. Each record is held together by stylistic glue, touching upon the varying facets that come to define Dekmantel as a label, and event series. Along the way, many pioneering artists have been brought under the Dekmantel umbrella, making their debuts on the label - and this, the seventh EP is of no exception, with Gilb'R, and Tolouse Low Trax all releasing their first full tracks with the Dutch imprint, while Randomer and Voiski, having previously released on Dekmantel's UFO techno side imprint, are also brought into the main fold.

Native Response returns with another 12-inch record with NR002: Shaman Among The Machines by Deltitnu.
Deltitnu is a homegrown Native Response project, debuting with three tracks that all share a certain feeling of mystery, accompanied by a steady grooving remix by Roger Gerressen. A1 is titled Sorry , a sweet and sincere record, that starts off with lyrical pianos drifting into space, while elegant drum machine rhythms build up more and more, developing a more club ready feel. This one is easy to lose yourself into, as the song progresses into vulnerable pads and a vocal stating Sorry, symbolising an apology from us humans to planet earth, for all we ve done. Continuing on to A2 Shaman Among The Machines we find ourselves in a whole different spectrum of the EP. It s hard to define where the kick ends and the bassline begins. A whole oozing of bass covers your body, and a miraculous atmosphere embraces you while the song effortlessly develops into a peaktime killer track. It moves on to a sexy acid line and playful drum rhythms on top, that when you think you almost understand them, they turn around again and show they were fooling around with you all along.
Flipping over the record; we start off with B1: Foundation Was Laid.
This meditative and hypnotising record shows that techno doesn t always have to be dark and dystopian. First of all the disco bass supported by the 303 massages the listener into a mindstate ready to take off. Once you re ready the atmospherical pads will take over and move you deeper into the comforting ambience of the track. The drums keep you grounded all the time, making sure no energy is lost on the dancefloor. Foundation Was Laid represents the start of the record label, Native Response. We conclude with B2, the Roger Gerressen Response of Shaman Among The Machines. Roger Gerressen does what he does best; giving the record a dubby and groovy spin.
He more or less adapts the qualities of a chameleon, resulting in a track that easily blends into the groove of the night, at any timeslot.

With the label's 10th anniversary celebrations now done and dusted, Claremont 56 returns to action with something rather special: a magical debut single from a previously unknown talent.
There's not much we can tell you about Ferdi Schuster, other than that he is a talented young producer from Augsburg in Germany. As Claremont 56 is one of his favourite labels, he speculatively submitted some tracks for consideration. Label founder Paul Murphy was astonished by what he heard and believes the two tracks showcased on this 12' are amongst the best things the label has released for some time.
A-side 'Little River' is breathtakingly good. Opening with the sound o a babbling brook, it sees Schuster wrap plucked, sun-kissed acoustic guitar licks and jaunty vintage synthesizer motifs around a languid, samba-infuenced groove. As the track progresses, further magical musical elements come to the fore, including blissful electric piano solos and more mazy synthesizer solos, seemingly played on battere old equipment from the turn of the '80s. Schuster's love of the acoustic guitar is explored further on similarly impressive B-side 'Befreit'. Here, gently strummed chords and fuid Spanish guitar motifs catch the ear, as hushed cymbals and gentle hand percussion lap at your feet like the sea at sunrise. The German producer adds atmosphere through a combination of leisurely Hammond organ solos and a touch of Jew's Harp. When all of these immaculate elements combine, the results are little less than spellbinding.
Schuster may be taking his frst steps into releasing music, but his
compositional, playing and production skills are already fnely tuned. We can surely expect to hear more inspired music from him in the years to come.

The Boutique Label presents an expanded vinyl edition of Backdoor Possibilities, the sixth album by cult German prog rockers Birth Control, originally released on the Brain Records imprint in 1976.

Formed in Berlin in 1968, Birth Control were known for a progressive hard rock sound which fused elements of jazz, psychedelia and so-called Krautrock. A surreal concept suite recorded with famed producer Conny Plank, Backdoor Possibilities arguably marked a final creative peak, blending rock, jazz, classical and avant-garde stylings with intricate polyrhythmic textures and lyrical nods to the legends of Faust and Odysseus.

On Backdoor Possibilties core members Bernd Noske (drums, vocals) and Bruno Frenzel (guitar) were joined by keyboard maestro Zeus B. Held, who also features on two long improvised tracks featured on Disc 2, Figure Out the Weather and Shake Those Crazy Nights, both recorded with Conny Plank in 1976. All material on Disc 2 is previously unreleased, with third track Rock It With a Long Bone being another extended piece recorded at Dierks Studio in 1982.

THEATRE RECORDS WAS FOUNDED WITH THE IDEA OF CONCENTRATING THE MAJOR GENRES OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC ON A SINGLE STAGE. MANY CENTURIES OF THEATRAL ART HAVE TAUGHT THAT THE TRAGEDY AND THE COMEDY ARE STRICTLY LINKED IN SPITE OF THEIR DIFFERENCES. WITH THIS PILLAR THEATRE RECORDS CONTAINS VARIOUS GENRES THAT AT THE SAME TIME ARE SEPARATED IN TWO DIFFERENT SUB-LABELS.

THEATRE WHITE - THE MASK OF THE COMEDY INCLUDES THE STRENGHT AND MUSICALITY OF ELECTRO-HOUSE AND PROGRESSIVE-HOUSE.

THEATRE BLACK - THE MASK OF TRAGEDY KEEPS INSIDE THE SOUL OF GENRES AS DEEP-HOUSE AND TECH-HOUSE.

REPRESSED !
Bristol based producers Behling & Simpson take on remixing some Kerri Chandler classics this August with the 'Heaven' EP, set to drop via Kerri's very own Madhouse Records
imprint.

Madhouse Records boss Kerri Chandler needs no introduction having been one of the most prominent names in underground house music for over two decades now. While rising talents Behling & Simpson's collective output has been championed by the likes of Claude von Stroke, Derrick Carter, Ralph Lawson, Modeselektor and many more over the pairs 100+ previous releases between them (under various guises), this stands as testament to their undeniable ability to craft forward-thinking electronic music.

First up on the release we have 'Heaven' featuring Christopher McCray on vocal duties, Behling & Simpson's prevalent low-slung, dropped tempo rhythms take the lead, alongside hypnotic lowend tones, while the duo capture Chandler's warm musicality with style utilizing the original's bright chord progressions and smooth vocal licks, creating an intricate, intelligent slice of house. 'Peace Of My Mind' follows on the flip side, a track originally released on Madhouse in 2011, though returning to the label in 2014 with an intriguing reshape courtesy of the Behling & Simpson, again taking on the pair's niche slo-mo feel, setting the tone and radiantly showcasing why their sound stands tall above many of their
contemporaries in such an effortlessly cool way.

New Yorks' Matuss returns with the eighth release on her Absence Seizure imprint this September, comprising three originals from the Ukrainian born artist.

Julia Matuss, better known as simply Matuss has been steadily carving out a name for herself over the past decade, initially finding her feet as a prominent DJ in the Ukrainian scene she grew up in before a move to New York saw thing progress and the launch of her Absence Seizure imprint shortly followed. Now eight releases deep the imprint has piqued the interested of DJ's such as D'Julz, DJ Deep, Derek Plaslaiko, TWR72 and Beaner.

Taking the lead on the package is 'Fairy Dust' setting the scene via warbling Rhodes chords, raw dub sweeps and a pulsating low-end drive before a spaced out, sinuous resonant synth lead ebbs and flows throughout the focal point of the composition.

'Baelfire' follows and strips things back to raw percussive feel, employing thunderous claps, a weighty kicks and sweeping filtered sample as the foundation before the latter half of the record works in a frenzied acid-tinged hook. 'Faramant' then closes the package with an amalgamation of organic percussion, natural bass licks and glitchy percussive chimes which all subtly evolve and retract throughout.

On EP5, legendary German musician Burnt Friedman makes his Dekmantel Records debut with 'Monsun'. The Berlin based artist, who built a reputation for himself through his explorations into obscure, finely-tuned, experimental dub through his label Nonplace, alongside his collaborative relationship with the late Can drummer Jaki Liebezeit, is one of the crucial, sonic manipulators of our time. 'Monsun' finds Friedman crafting flowing, percussive, dub techno that is both esoteric, and progressive. Befitting of a Dekmantel release. Alongside Friedman sits legendary Detroit act Ectomorph, aka. BMG & Erika, also making their Dekmantel inauguration, with a record that surmises' the group's anologue, style of Motor City beats.
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There would be no Dekmantel celebration without longtime family members, JuJu & Jordash. With three LPs and countless EPs released on the imprint to date, alongside a sleuth of festival, and party appearances, the improvisational duo have become masters of off-kilter, and poly-rhytmic electronic funk, of which 'Neon Swing' -a fast-paced and extremely invigorative cut- is of prime example. And then there's Dekmantel favourite Fatima Yamaha - an artist who has a keen ear for gentle, analogue hooks that have gone to become ample festival fodder. The Dutchman maintains an ear for the serene with the track 'Platforms', a sullen, yet beautiful ambient track, the drives deep into the emotive world of soft, tender, heartfelt music.

DJ Harrison is Richmond VA-based producer and multi-instrumentalist Devonne Harris.

The son of a radio DJ who introduced him to the world of record collecting, Harris grew up with music, progressing from violin, to high school drum-line, to the Jazz Studies program at Virginia Commonwealth University. He also continued working with other instruments and developed an interest in sampling. His development as a producer - at first, without a computer or sampler - came first learning to replay samples on the drums, piano, bass or guitar.

DJ Harrison finds himself inspired by local musicians in the Richmond scene that's as diverse and nonexclusive as they come. Among rappers, producers, punks and bluegrass bands, he falls within reach of an expansive pool of musicians to collaborate with. He lives and works in Jellowstone, a house turned recording compound occupied by his band mates in Butcher Brown, a 'garage punk jazz funk' group.

Toddla T's third full length project, Foreign Light perfectly showcases his progression and maturity as a producer, and will be released on Toddla's very own label, Steeze.

Running through the project are the supreme vocals of Andrea Martin, a vocalist who has worked with the likes of Toni Braxton, En Vogue, Angie Stone, Paloma Faith and even Naughty Boy. Not content with this powerful melodic story, Toddla has also enlisted the talents of Wiley, Stefflon Don, CasIsDead, Chilly Gonzales, and Coco, with executive production from Benji B.


[B] A2 | Won't Admit It's Love (Feat. Andrea Martin & CaSisDEAD

Here comes Argoman, the antihero of disco music. Inspired by the 1960s b movie super hero Argoman, the name literally means lazy man, however it's also a combination of three Italian producers' names, who started the project about one year ago. The track Chimicalissimo merges the vibrant rhythms of disco with the emotional approach of modern electronic music. It's a peak-time dancefloor banger completely produced with analog synths and drum machines. The tune is a proper voyage between syncopated rhythms and heavy basslines soaked with synth melodies that often recall IDM progressions. The dub version gives more space to a melancholic piano melody that culminates through analog arpeggios to an unstoppable build. Black Spuma remix finally turns the track into a slow burning disco monster.

INCL. HIVER & CLAY WILSON REMIXES

Drawing on a pedigree of lush synth experimentation and cutting drum arrangements, Alfredo Mazzilli has been pushing his own brand of hypnotic techno over the past several years, charting releases with Lanthan Audio, Weekend Circuit and Edit Select. Now, Blankstairs is proud to announce the first U.S.-based release for the Italian producer with Vanaheimr , a pair of new tracks coupled with remixes from Clay Wilson and Hiver.

Mazzilli's work takes a considered pathway that walks the line between form and function, pulling his thick landscapes of synth wash and melodic punctuations through cutting rhythm tracks that owe as much to classic drum machine workouts as the dub-techno stalwarts that he frequently draws on here. Sculptural precision and rhythmic development work in tandem here, giving each track a shifting framework that seems to never touch down in the same place twice.

It s best seen in B-side Njord , a full-on assault of staccato kicks and flickers of percussion elements fleshed out with a series of short, repetitive pads, and washes of reverb, that create a meditative progression of interlocking textures. A similar approach defines A-side Vanir , where a lighter series of synth arrangements are woven through a driving, hypnotic rhythm that offers a fitting counterpoint to Njord's brutal kick patterns.

These are tracks about patience and concentration, allowing the slow, coursing process of the track to take center stage, turning the track into a negotiation between its functional, rhythmic ground and the high-mind ephemerality his arrangements conjure. A pair of remixes join Mazzilli's compositions, with The Bunker New York/Styles Upon Styles alum Clay Wilson twisting Njord towards a more balanced, rhythmic pacing, while pushing its hissing electronics towards a more caustic frequency range. On the A-Side, Hiver draws rhythmic cues from 90's house to turn Vanir into a trance-inducing sunrise groove.

Hemlock founder Untold is back on the label with his first vinyl EP since 'Doff' on sub-label HBLK back in 2015. This release follows appearances on last year's #savefabric compilation, and more recently on 'Magic City III' compiled by Mixpak boss Jubilee.

HEK029 follows a rewarding period of A&R for Hemlock that has so far delivered EPs from Bruce and Parris, with several more scheduled to drop throughout 2017.

This EP's two winding tracks are a natural progression from the fiercely textural drum work of Untold's previous singles and album 'Black Light Spiral.' Here the material is given more space to breathe and released from the grid creating a lighter more footloose feel.

'Tear Up the Club' carries the weight of DMZ era half-step using a loose web of elasticated breaks and builds to reveal a striking melodic line.

On 'Watton Res' exotic tones are further compressed and expanded in sequence, encasing drum machine, keyboards and guitar work within a delicate shell.

Astray is the Sublabel of Away, Berlin.

Berlin's party series and the eponymous vinyl label celebrate the launch of its sublabel ASTRAY with the 'Road Force EP' by Discrete Circuit. While AWAY with previous contributions from Joe Claussell, Mr. Ties, and Move D leans more to the housier side of things, ASTRAY will take a different path by taking some darker, techno-centered steps. Following the idea only to release productions by both label founders, Discrete Circuit and H4L, as well as unique collaborations which either of them will form with outside artists, ASTRAY's second EP will premiere the joint studio work of Discrete Circuit and DJ/producer Blind Observatory. EP INFO After releasing on labels such as DVS1's Mistress Recordings, Mark Broom's label Beard Manand Darko Esser's Wolfskuil Records, Discrete Circuit's new EP provides four progressivetracks mirroring his interest in a steadily growing techno narrative as well as mind manipulating onomatopoeia. On the A-side he's evolving his floor-aimed capabilities in two different ways: Starting with subtly quoting the infamous Motor City, the title track's on-edge techno design quickly accumulates into some kind of hounding; not knowing if you're the hunted or the hunter. 'Stress Resultant' increases the pace, whereby the restless vibe is contrasted by melodic synth patterns embodying a sort of playful corrective. The flip side introduces Discrete Circuit's experimental facet: 'Controlled Error' exhibits the dialogue between harmony and chaos in which shrieking, yet claustrophobic shades play hide-and-seek ultimately unfolding a gloomy funk, while the EP's last 'Circuitry' is completely carried by shape-shifting, pulsing soundscapes.

The anonymous entity CHPTR derived from undefined controlled sequences progressing into endless alienated narratives, all live recorded and captured on the eponymous label, CHPTR.

Hedonism in its purest form means nothing but adjusting one s life and ambition towards pleasure and joy as well as the prevention of pain and sorrow. Following that concept, Wice s first EP takes the listener along on a journey of extremes: persistently strolling between sensual desire, ecstasy and lust as well as the deepest abysses of human sensitivities.
Coherently, just kiddin drags the listener right into Wice s universe of fabulous oppositions without any prior warning: the Peak Time Killer, inspired by the love of Detroit Techno of the 90ies, exhibits irrepressible energy, velocity and surprising twists and turns. Driven by the progressive drive of the drum patterns, the voyager, trapped in a mesh of percussions, wanders confused and disoriented on dance floors looking for support and, as if out of the blue, finally gets released by the warm synthline and gently taken by the hand. Simply just kiddin.
When legs are broken, things have to be done can be described as a small masterpiece of urban, intelligent dance music. The composition, which ranges in between complexity and simplicity, with its breaking beats in combination with spheric pads shows up the necessity that one should, despite setbacks, consistently remind oneself that life, love and music reveal their most beautiful aspects in a balanced and smooth flow.
The eponymous track hedonism draws a painting of obscure and rugged techno landscapes, which attract the listener magically, even though their beauty and grace can only be assumed at first glance. Once identified, the shimmering pads, the forceful bassline and the impulsive percussions unfold a world riddled with the most beautiful abysses and animality hedonism in its purest and most sinful form alike.
With blind certainty a downtempo piece rounds off the EP, which is supposed to be comprehended as a reminder for all hedonists that blind trust may have positive as well as negative consequences.
The hopeful basic mood of the song, however, always lets the light at the end of the tunnel shine through, which emphasizes the optimistic exit of Wice s world of hedonism.

It s time for Lewis Fautzi to introduce his first album on Pole Group, a collection of ten tracks of cosmic techno, carefully crafted making a soundtrack of the future, deep, intense and scientific.

Psycho path is the intro, made of granular textures, subtle drones and ambiences, stepping into Entering, pulsating sub bass, continuous sinoidal sequences, pads and tension.

Subconscious starts with the beat, opaque bass drum, micro hi hats, atmospheres and monotonous sequences at a low bpm rate while Diffracted speeds the tempo a bit with electric synths, flanges and twists creating an hypnotic number. Rentless pain follows, with resonant bleeps starring until assymetrical sequences appear and the synth lines evolve in a hi pass filter galore.

Seasick is humid and liquid, gummy sounds, clean drum programming, spaced out sounds and a lot of room. Then we come into Furrow, aimed to the intelligent dancefloors out there, synthetic bubbles, rolling sub woofer action , bleeps and noises. Cyclic Human reminds to the best scifi techno with bell like sequences, digital clicks, jazz harmonies and abstract progression.

Number nine is Optic Chiasm a direct number based on an obscure drum workout and filled with hi pitched relentless sequences, intelligently arranged to create a mental feeling as well as inducing to dance. Album closes with The Brain Revolution, like an evolution of Entering, beatless but still preserving the tension and the movement.

A coherent and complete collection of precise, surgical and futuristic music to be enjoyed as a whole adventure..

Fire in the hole! Luca Agnelli's Etruria Beat hits its 40th release and it's a truly historic affair with two very top remixers : Slam and Truncate! Now seven years deep into the label's innovative techno trip, Etruria has made nurturing exciting new Italian talent one of its key signatures. Bastinov, Dast, Reform, Kaiser, Diego Amura and Toms Due are just some of the progressive creators Etruria have supported over the last two years alone. But for this release it's down to the label bossman himself... And he's made sure it's a deeply Etruscan affair. Released in the wake of his mass-scene-supported 'Metamorphosis' EP and building on a body of work that boasts tastemaker labels such as Soma, Drumcode and Planet Rhythm, Luca lays down two slabs of absolute dynamite that not only bang, but also tie his sound, vision and inspiration back to his deepest roots with rich mythology... 'Voltumna' pays homage to the supreme god of Etruscan people. Not just in name and honour, but also in its powerful dynamic and touching balance of shades thanks to its atmospheric, rhythmic chord. 'Aplu' continues this spiritual theme with a dedication to another Entruscan divinity. An offering to the god of thunder and lightning, once again it lives up to its name with a barbed rolling dynamic that suddenly cracks open into a cosmos of light and emotion before hurling you back into the dark drum drama. Thunderous isn't the half of it. It comes complete with two exceptional remixes of 'Voltumna' by Slam and Truncate. Soma bosses Slam add their signature Glaswegian grit with distorted textures that loop in a hypnotic frenzy while Truncate strips the groove back to a jacking dynamic that becomes progressively bouncier with raw machine funk insistency. Across the originals and remixes there's not a corner in techno that isn't exceptional

After what can only be described as a storming start to their label, Luke Hazell, Ben Murphy and Elliott Owen continue the exciting evolution of their brand Music Related with their first vinyl release and it's nothing short of sublime.
This spring, Music Related makes its bold entrance into the ever growing vinyl market with a heavy dose of minimal and house cuts in the form of a 4 track Various Artists, EP. MRRV001 drafts in the talents of Salva Stigler & Dubquest, Pat Ondebaak, Duky and Manuel De Lorenzi, and it's easy to see why as these 4 artist each bring a unique flavour to this well rounded minimal infused record.
The listener is welcomed on the A side by Salva Stigler & Dubquest - 'Dead Men Tell No Tales', which teases dark techno elements with a rolling progressive baseline. Definitely a track for the later hours, this dance floor weapon is sure to send heads tripping with the dark eerie vocals taunting the equally as impressive clicky percussion.
A2 takes a more laid back approach from A1 as Pat Ondebaak's track Matter offers up a low slung dubbed out groove with a sprinkling of crisp skippy high hats and a highly seductive mix of low and high percussion elements setting deep in the mix.
As we flip the record, Deep Tech records head honcho Duky brings an absolute club banger in the form of 'It Takes One'. Built around an old school drum break this hypnotic hard hitting track seduces you with its repetitive vocal stabs only to find yourself slapped hard in the face with the powerful 4 or 5 note synth line. Built for the big systems this high impact track is a certified party starter!
Closing of proceedings we have Manuel De Lorenzi's slightly more house oriented 'Whole Night'. This deep groove conveys a sweet mix of bouncy baseline, heavily swung hats and rides with a spaced out mix of filtered chord stabs and pads. Manuel's warm up vibe really rounds off what is a brilliant entry into the vinyl market for Music Related.

A few years ago we received an anonymous email with a link to three tracks and a simple
message: 'Hi, maybe you would be interested in this music.'

It's easy to be skeptical of yet another link from yet another artist in a world overcrowded with them, but listening is our job and so we do it. The songs were instantly striking: extraordinarily slow, somber, and spacious, each vaulted cathedral chord reverberating poetically into the distance, the melodies rolling out like fog across a cemetery.

Captivated, we requested more, receiving a single word in response: Yes.' Then, nothing. Eventually, three months later, we received another email with slightly more information: a name (Irma Orm), a location (Stockholm), and a bit of context (she worked alone, and progress on music was slow but steady ).

Fast-forward to mid-2016: we're informed the album is complete, and it is breathtaking. Hermetic gothic swan songs conjured from funereal piano, twilit ambience, minimalist percussion, and spellbinding vocals.

The mood is lulling and lush but lost in sorrow, stark grey structures looming in the night. Majestic open spaces between notes heighten the melancholic grandeur of Orm's arrangements, blurring the line between lament and lullaby. The songs less end than ebb away,succumbing to their own downcast beauty.

Following a number of exciting tunes released on the renowned Quintessentials, here comes Mat Chiavaroli's first long-player 'No Stranger To Madness". Warm Fostex tape hisses and MPC swings, the guy from the Pescara hills delivers 10 tracks for both your dancing and listening pleasure. The A- and B-side tracks are drenched in dusty funk samples, gritty chords and syncopated rhythms. In 'Aroma De Mi Vida' Mat chops obscure Rhodes riffs and layering them with more elements, just like in 'Whoja Vu", a heavy-sampled disco juggler very close to his previous Quintessentials releases. On the flip we find some deep chords melting with powerful gospel vocals, giving life to a track that annihilates boring dancefloors. There's a similar vibe in 'Jeep Ridaz' that reminisces about seminal Atavisme classics with broken detuned bits and agitated cut and pastes give a sense of randomness. The second part of this album shows Mat Chiavaroli's deeper side. 'Double Pain' is a tune that progressively brings you to many aspects of what Mat loves: saturated female vocals stick out while gloomy chords gently develop. 'Storia Losca' has a slightly different attitude with a huge synth presence, live percussion and dreamy pianos. The D side opens with 'The Quiet Bobobo", a distorted floor delight and ends with something closer to Mat's early music, disclosing a fresh collaboration with the young studio fellow P.Lok. 'No Stranger To Madness' fits many bills and is an impressive proof of what Mat's musical ability is.

Vincenzo needs little introduction - the veteran producer and DJ has been a fixture on the scene for years, releasing his distinctive brand of classy deep and techy house on a number of key labels. Returning to Poker Flat, he teams up with the mega talented Cari Golden for this killer three track EP. Cari hails from LA, an accomplished singer & songwriter and a part of band Narcotourist. She lends her skills to 'Never Go Back' a lush yet edgy deep bomb built around slinky groove shot through with Vincenzo's trademark drama and tension. Cari brings the track to the next level with her vocals - both seductive and cautionary. Smash TV (Holger Zilske and Kai Preussner) bring a sick remix to the table with their version - heading to deeper territory and seemingly primed for the after hours vibe. Next up is 'That's The Way' - an instrumental that sees Vincenzo revel in some old school chord progressions and tension / release dynamics to make a sure-fire floor weapon.

One of the core members of the Apollonia family is the mastermind behind the label's latest release. Shonky steps up with his first solo EP since 'Plombiére' which dropped in July 2016. Full of funky flavours and that distinct 'Shonky style', the new EP consists of four brand new tracks produced exclusively for Apollonia. Each track emanates its own unique vibe, while reppin' Shonk's irresistible groove. On side A we have 'Tyrolien', a jaunty number with bright tones and a tight, rolling groove. Shonky injects it with a series of unusual FX and what sounds like an wizened old creature, speaking about 'the foulest stench in the air'. It's a superb combination and sets the EP off to a great start.Next up is 'Beat Street' which has a heavier set of beats, which stomp down as a marauding b-line gets to work. Tiny fizzes and cheeps in the background add depth, sounding like robotic birds at play in the wild. The track is minimal in its make up, but deep and engrossing, classic Shonky material.Flip the vinyl over and we have 'Torro Rosso', a bold, stomping workout with fresh percussion and a jovial analogue riff. As the bubbly low end percolates way down below, the beats pump the track along and an extra layer of analogue funk enters the fray midway through. The final track is titled 'Serpent a` Sonnette' and swithes the vibe. It's loose, meandering and twisted, with a hypnotic bassline and super sharp percussion. This one is going to get the dance floor locked into a groove, as it progresses a sweet, chirpy melody brightens the mood. Feel the glow!Once again Shonky demonstrates his ability to produce groovy dance floor cuts that have their own unique fingerprint; danceable, unusual and utterly captivating. Grab the new EP now!

* Includes a DIN A2long poster inside the 12" sleeve with edition number and music download code

* Rogue Style 1 EP is an international homage to b-boy culture, where the worlds of breakbeat music and breakdance collide. Sinistarr (USA), Kiat (Singapore), Kabuki (Germany) and HomeSick (Canada) are connected in many ways, now they lay bare their hip-hop roots and give something back with a fresh take through the eyes of drum & bass and juke/footwork. Here is what they have to say:

Sinistarr: "As a teenager I grew up as a b-boy, dancing anywhere I could: schools, parks, festivals, you name it, my crew was there with cardboard and a speaker. I eventually got deeper into DJing and making music and learned to bring a sound that's not just for the crowds and the purists, but also for all the dancers!"

Kiat: "Hip Hop has taught me to keep evolving, to explore new forms in all my art. Progression is the key to evolution. -- I met Sinistarr online thru myspace and we had a musical connection which led to our first collaboration 'Black Diamonds' which is still one of my personal favourite tunes I've been fortunate to be part of it's creation. With Kabuki, i've always been a fan of his work since his 'Makai' alias on No U-Turn, despite meeting him only recently thru the label.I've always known him to be constantly progressing his ideas in his music which I respect alot."

Kabuki: "B-boy culture has always been a strong influence on how I pursued my art, mainly because of its DIY ethos and attitude of perfecting your craft. Incidentally these were also the aspects that drew me to Jungle when I first discovered it in the nineties. -- I'm happy to rub shoulders with Kiat, Sinistarr and HomeSick on this release, as I'm a fan of their music foremost, but also because we became friends through the music."

HomeSick: "I was only a child in the 90s and as a result I feel like my understanding of b-boy culture was experienced second hand thanks to 90s/early 2000s hip hop music. I appreciate the parallels I can see with footwork culture, particularly the similarities to the community mentality of break dancing. -- I know Sinistarr through booking him for our local party night in Alberta, Canada called Percolate. Our city must have left an impression on him because a year later he made the move here from Detroit. Had the pleasure of hosting him as a room mate for a little over half a year, the home was a very potent creative space during this time. Kabuki hit me up a few years ago and we very quickly got to sharing tracks and collaborating together. Mans a master of production and a super important part of the global scene."

The idea for a reminiscence of b-boy culture stem from label owner Booga:

"Why am I interested in this so much I grew up in East Germany and as the movie "Beat Street" premiered in 1985 over here I was age 13 and blown away by the energy, the music, the wit, the style - everything in this movie was better than everyday life in Leipzig. So I started saving for a cassette recorder and taped music shows from West German radio and prepared tapes for school disco gigs to the hope somebody would do the "robot" to Arthur Baker "Breaker's Revenge". Unfortunately that never worked out hahaha. But I was hooked since then and as the wall came down in 1989 I travelled to West Berlin just to buy the Beats, Breaks and Scratches 1-4 vinyl box by Simon Harris. The fascination for breakbeats never stopped and before I discovered Jungle around '94 I was down with the British cut up house thing from the likes of Marrs, Krush and Coldcut as another form of breakbeat music. The "do it yourself" spirit from hip hop culture inspired me to start a local website called breaks.org in 2000 to locally promote the drum and bass scene with emerging producers, djs and mcs for a wider audience and I threw in some interviews with Storm, Kabuki, Rob Playford, Klute and John B. That turnt into a multi author blog called itsyours.info in 2004 which still exists - that is where I had the pleasure to introduce Kiat and Ash in 2007. All these years I was listening and playing drum and bass tunes when the occasional "bboy tune" came up, some were obvious like Alex Reece "B-Boy Flavour", Lemon D "B Boyz", Commix "Change" and some were not so much self-explanatory like Digital & Spirits "Phantom Force" and the remixes by T-Power & Codeine or Fracture's Astrophonica Edit - but I felt the hidden force of breakdancing nevertheless. With the Rogue Style series I have the first class opportunity to ask established and new Defrostatica artists to present a current interpretation of b-boy culture. This is a dream coming true."

"Daito" The Temple
Sub filtered kick delays deliver heart pounding bass, followed by spacious overhead sounds of nature, leaving the tubular synthesis builds up the tension. Featuring a melodic buildup, to get any dance floor calm, quickly to be filled with warm sub bass & soft percussion, ending with a clean mixable outro.

"Balas" Molecules (J. Manuel Destruction Mix)
A mechanically arranged techno slammer, with creatively delayed sci-fi elements, pounding broken beats & subtle, clean percussion, all coming together to dominate any dance-floor!
Starting with a slowly resonating acid line, medieval sounding pads add depth & progression, followed by a sharp snare & tribal tom, all ending in a galactic buildup, with the acid line adding the energy & the pads giving the track an ancient sound.

"Projekt Gestalten" The Fight, The Victory, The Death
Starting with a slowly resonating acid line, medieval sounding pads add depth & progression, followed by a sharp snare & tribal tom, all ending in a galactic buildup, with the acid line adding the energy & the pads giving the track an ancient sound.

"Cristian Marras" Project to Escape
Hypnotic but also energetic, this is peak time techno!
The first hook gets your attention as the overdrive percussion builds you up to the breakdown. As the frequencies slowly change, the buildup arises, building up the energy levels ahead of the discreet drop, filled with high frequencies to put you into a state of trance.

For all of his life Berlin based musician Drei Farben House has been thrilled by the artistic concepts of repetition and modifying resemblances. Small but precise and perceptible variations of (musical) themes have been fascinating him throughout his life as a lover of dance-infused Pop. The artistic concept of handwriting has been questioned in the world of fine arts with some justification, but Michael Siegle aka Drei Farben House has remained a strong advocate of this artistic principle which in his view has resulted in so many impressive musical expressions in the history of Soul and Disco --reference points which have been particularly important to Siegle's creative work. The album's sleeve shows the 'Doris and Norman Fisher House' in Hatboro (a suburb of Philadelphia) designed by Louis I. Kahn from 1960-1967. Kahn, based in Philadelphia and one of the most influential architects of the twentieth century, was already in his sixties and progressively getting famous around this time for his sensitive combination of concrete and brick in larger scales. The almost spiritual sensibility of his buildings and his poetry of light created deep, fundamental connections between the spaces and their inhabitants. New Release Information "Every building must have . . . its own soul", this famous quote of Kahn can easily be seen in the modest and wonderfully warm Fisher house which consits of two intersecting cubic volumes created from cedar wood - finished at the same time when only twenty miles away the newly founded Sigma Sound Studio recorded the Delfonics first record, installing the basements of Philadelphia Soul which was later leading to Phillysound, Disco and House.

Echoe returns for its first outing of 2017 and fifth release since starting in earnest last year. ECHOE005 marks the first remix package in the label's discography, offering up four stellar remixes of Francesca Lombardo's "Remembrance" song. A clear stand-out in the label boss's inimitable repertoire, "Remembrance" has been given the rework treatment by house and techno stalwarts: Cassy, Laura Jones, Jade and La Fleur.

Cassy offers up the first remix, focussing her reinterpretation around an enormous and insistent bassline, murky and dense in equal measure, that rolls from start to finish. Undulating hats inject further energy, doubling in pace strategically whilst complimenting the 4/4 groove. Utilising the originals' emotional resonance, Cassy creates soft textures and refined arpeggiated patterns, adding a further dimension to the track's impassioned narrative.

Laura Jones's remix comes in the form of a low-slung, jazzy drum work-out, adorned with sub-heavy kicks and a snarling low-end that offers much of the track's sonic weight. Gentle bell-like keys float alongside modulated synth stabs that filter in and out of focus, whilst Jones's drum programming becomes progressively more and more frenetic.

Jade's reimagining sees a broken beat take the reigns, leaving space for soft percussive rhythms and an earth shaking low-end that pushes the song into ghetto house territory. Hi-hat pick-ups and jittery vocal cuts provide further momentum before the groove lands on sturdy 4/4 terrain. Jade's deftly arranged breakdowns, punctuated by panned drum fills and granular FX, adds welcome tension to the track, making a return to rolling drum-patterns and buzzing bass-sequences all the more rewarding as they come back in.

The final remix comes courtesy of La Fleur who delivers the most peak-time, club focussed material on the package. Staying true to the original's hook, La Fleur brings melody to the fore, whilst deploying snappy drums alongside chilling atmospherics and tech heavy stabs, set to keep dancers moving into early hours and beyond.

Amsterdam based Leyla records presents part two of it's various artists compilation, this time bringing together a host of international artists, as well as a contribution from label boss Chafik Chennouf.

The four tracker commences with Insufferable People from label regular Manni Dee. Following his spectacular EP on Perc Trax, Dee delivers a dancefloor roller containing punctilious sound design integral to his work, with vocals from the artist superimposed over crunchy drums, riding the waves of submerged synths.

Track two from France's Von Grall offers a similar treat for DJs, this time with more introspective elements working in harmony with with propulsive polyrhythms. As the track creeps forward the revelation of drones and synth lines further involves the listener and contributes to a musical landscape populated by rhythmically independent segments, coalescing to form a cogent whole.

Head honcho Chafik Chennouf injects light in to the darkness on the B1 with Kosmai, redolent of EBM style funk rhythms. The stolid arpeggios function as the foundation for percussive interplay which propel the track in to new territory as it progresses. The 90s rave influence becomes apparent as the automations mould and shape the multidimensional lead.

The closer, Useless Landscape, from Japan's Katsunori Sawa immediately immerses the listener as the concrete groove is quickly overtaken by field recordings and a unique tonality emerging through layered drones and warped artefacts. Reminiscent of his work with Yuji Kondo as Steven Porter, the track unveils an intimacy through detail, while maintaing distance through evolving layers of sound creating mystery and magic.

Inspired by the likes of Raresh, Zip, and Villalobos, the artist known as Kepler has something special in store for your local area dance floor. "Making Chords" is an exciting new release that's guaranteed to please.
The title track "Making Chords" can be appropriately described as nothing less than an addictive, bona fide banger that will instantaneously hook its end user after one listen. From the beginning Kepler. sets the pace with a smooth, sexy bass line that will command your attention and aggressively compel any crowd to start dancing. This passionate production pushes its agenda with a rumbling tempo, dynamic drums, and intriguing vocals that are well worth repeating. Laced with clever sounding samples and purposeful piano licks, "Making Chords" is made for anyone and everyone.
The second offering, "Wire" is a quirky, fun departure that gives insight to Kepler's wide range. This spooky sounding track is characterized by its off-beat rhythm, saturating bass tones and curious sounding signals that slide up and down while continually building momentum. As the "Wire" progresses, one can't help but to take note of how its unpredictable nature is dictated in such a well-organized manner. Very, very interesting.

Bartellow has long been associated with the ESP Institute though Tambien, a trio formed alongside Bavarian cohorts Marvin and Valentino, who have released seminal dancefloor material over recent years. With his debut album Panokorama, we are invited into a completely different world of Bartellow's creation—a place where influences become a melting pot of mood, nuance and texture, and where instrumentation is abstracted from a variety of cultures, including those that exist solely within his imagination. Bartellow has found a way to merge Primitivism with Retrofuturism, identifying their point of intersection and reveling in their union across ten songs. While his academic background as a Jazz musician certainly informs both his progressive approach to composition and non-linear production, it is his obsession with electronics and synthesis that shape his current musical climate. The title Panokorama stems from Bartellow's visualization of the album, a surreal landscape with a foreign presence centrally embedded, a 'panorama' punctuated by a 'ko'—although a hybrid word that reads as nonsense, it somehow feels and sounds just right.

Ave Berlin collective AWAY ready the 4th release in their catalogue. With 001 on the label being a VA, 002 being an EP from Joe Claussell & Mr.Ties as AWAY Soundsystem and 003 being a second VA - they now present a split 2-tracker from label mainstay Move D and his pairing with Jonah Sharp under their collaborative guise of Reagenz. Whilst keeping an anchor at Berlin's About Blank, AWAY have hosted parties at numerous other venues across the city as well as Barcelona and throughout have maintained a welcoming and free spirited attitude. Harnessing this attitude and channeling the collective's Detroit influences, AWAY have developed their imprint which has so far taken shape over a set of 3 analogue-heavy VA's. Next in line follows suit in melding tough drums with Motor City pads. Natural in their progression, both tracks spark ardour as they steadily develop adding another fine addition to a blooming catalogue.

'Soul Jazz Records' new journey into the mighty vaults of Clement Dodd's Studio One steps once more into the fertile musical environment of Jamaican music in the late 1960's and early 1970's, from the sweet harmony vocals of seminal 1960s Rocksteady right up to the nascent birth of Reggae and Roots music at the start of the 1970's. Sleevenotes to this album are by Steve Barrow, author of 'Rough Guide to Reggae' as well as Soul Jazz Records' own 'Reggae Soundsystem Cover Art' books.

While Ska at the start of the 1960's had taken American Rhythm and Blues as its main influence, Rocksteady focused on the emergence of American Soul music - with Jamaican vocal harmony groups such as The Gaylads, John Holt & The Paragons, Carlton & The Shoes showing a particular fascination with the close harmonies of Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions and other US Soul acts. Here The Heptones even feature with a cover of Bob Dylan's 'I Shall Be Released'.

The influence of Soul music on Jamaican Rocksteady and Reggae is almost palpable, so much so that one wonders how much more successful singers like Delroy Wilson, Alton Ellis, Slim Smith and John Holt would have been had they been born in Chicago, Detroit or Memphis. Artists such as Alton Ellis, Delroy Wilson and Owen Gray defined the era - a slowed down beat as Jamaican political and social heat slowly increased when the 1960's progressed into the start of the 1970's - and the music evolved further from Rocksteady into Roots Reggae. This album is released on heavyweight gatefold sleeve double vinyl (plus download code), CD with slipcase and digital album (ex-North America).

Progression..., like a spark shooting through fiber optic cable or a bullet train churning through the next tunnel, the acid-techno arrangements of Detroit-based DJ/producer Rebecca Goldberg have a velocity to them that's spurred by reverence for the roots of electronic and techno music conceived in her hometown, from the Belleville Three to 'the Godmother of House Music,' DJ Stacey 'Hotwaxx' Hale.

Palpable in the pulse of Goldberg's latest EP 313 Acid Queen is an urgent and inspired, cool and confident sense of picking up a proverbial torch, of propulsion along with preservation, of continuation as well as re-invention. Born vigorously forth upon the blooms and grooves of her synth scores for these five songs is the sharpest demonstration, yet, of her signature sound and vision.

313 Acid Queen reaches to and re-enlivens the traditions of Detroit techno with Roland's contemporary iterations of the 808, 909 and 303 drum machines, quintessential sonic characters utilized by the region & genre's seminal producers. The title refers, also, to the Detroit area's predominant telephone area-code, as she audibly reaches out to touch the essence of her city's distinct and dynamic neighborhoods and landscapes, most evidently with the field recordings from city streets and the animal populace inhabitants in the majestic Belle Isle Aquarium.

These kinetic, contemplative and coolly exhilarating tracks were conceived to carry on the tradition of Detroit acid techno in the contemporary world. Fittingly, Goldberg's first vinyl release comes on March 13t h (3/13), distributed internationally through Detroit Underground, a multidisciplinary arts collective & record label. Goldberg's fellow Detroit producer Ryan McCray has a deep sound and keen sensibility for acid techno all his own; he fell in love with the 313 Acid Queen track 'Aquarium' and remixed it to be an exclusive bonus track for the vinyl release.

Rico Puestel is in charge for our Cocoon Recordings 144th release. Rico is an 'producer animal' who released more than 100 tracks & remixes since 2005 under various project names such as Dinamoe, Central Scrutinizer and of course under his main moniker Rico Puestel. The enormous amount of productions shaped Rico's knowledge and taste and his new cocoon release 'Neyst' and 'Enokid' seems to be the logical result of his long journey through the techno-universe. Puestels style is very unique and merges elements of dark and hypnotic mainfloor techno as well as orchestral sounds and even industrial elements. 'Neyst' is the perfect hypnotic and dark techno circle that keeps on progressing and building up into sheer madness. No fast food, no leightweight, this is heavy techno business! 'Enokid' comes with a little more of a Chicago house vibe however it is again still deep in Puestels very own style. We especially fancy the crazy break in the middle with the spaced out room effect part and the melody coming in after the break. As stompy and musclepacked this track is, it still seems to be very musical and deep at the same time - what a trip! This one demands a good and proper sound system, well what other Cocoon Release doesn't

Fresh off Son Of Sound releases on Delusions Of Grandeur and Local Talk, New York based Henry Maldonado is back on his District 30 label with Son Of Sound 05 / The Love Up Beat Down. This 3-tracker features something for everyone, as Jackin' House, Disco-Chug and even Detroit Techno are well represented. Kicking things off on side A is 'Bout Love Again, an adrenalin induced shot of disco house served up the old fashioned New York way. MPC style loops, chop-ups and breakdowns give a nod to the '90s House 2 House style tracks Henry produced on Strictly Rhythm. Not falling too far from that tree is the disco-house chugger Need Each Other.
Rhodes chords accompany a bed of sliced-up New York Disco, for an infectious groove that will denitely keep that 120BPM momentum.Lastly we round out this EP with Inuence Is Bliss. This one will denitely appeal to lovers of Detroit Techno and House alike. Pounding drums, 16th note ride cymbals, arpeggiated synth lines and ghostly soulful chord progressions effectively distract you from the fact this track doesn't even have a bassline.

COMPILED BY PETE PASQUAL, ERICA OLSON & DJ KINETIC

Following on from acclaimed compilations like 'Down Under Nuggets' and 'Heavy Soul' (and two other new titles 'Running The Voodoo Down' and 'Dodgy Bossa (& Silly Sambas)' - details below), Festival Records presents another deep dig into the archives, this time shining a light on rare Australian soul-jazz, jazz-funk, and freaked-out groove rock from the late '60s and '70s.

BACK ON THE STREET AGAIN - AUSTRALIAN FUNK, SOUL & PSYCH (MOSTLY) FROM THE FESTIVAL VAULTS is a stunning 20 track CD and 2LP release that highlights a point when the previously disparate styles of rock, jazz and soul all started influencing each other, and exciting new genres were created. To quote the liner notes (by DJ Kinetic):

Australia produced some amazing music during the 60s and 70s that sat outside of the normal rock mould. Avant guard artists like John Sangster pushed boundaries and experimented with the fusion of local and overseas influences, artists like Dalvanius recorded soaring disco music that was lost amongst the popular music of the time, only to be rediscovered by DJs overseas who were searching for unknown sounds, composers like Brute Force and His Drum took risks and recorded left-field funky sounds hidden within their more mainstream compositions, and popular artists like Billy Thorpe occasionally strayed from their A&R directions and took leaves from the books of American artists who were largely unknown in Australia at the time. Beneath the veneer of bland rock and roll lay an unknown multitude of funky sounds hidden from mainstream view.

In addition to the artists that Kinetic mentions (and the compilation features two John Sangster tracks - stunning versions of 'Hair' and the Beatles' 'A Day In The Life'), the collection includes iconic names of the era like the Daly-Wilson Big Band (featuring Kerrie Biddell), Renee Geyer and the Johnny Rocco Band. '60s sides from Ross D Wyllie and The ID (featuring Jeff St John) reveal the various styles' roots in American rhythm & blues, and the unexpected inclusion of some legendary Australian rock outfits like Tamam Shud and Blackfeather reveals the psychedelic and progressive rock influences at play. The full range of the music is highlighted by the inclusion of both cabaret/daytime TV performer Al Styne and outrageous Kings Cross club act Count Copernicus & The Cosmic Fire as well as the in-house studio 'pops' orchestra, Festival Studio 24 Orchestra.

Co-compilers Pete Pasqual, Erica Olson and DJ Kentic to undertake interviews with specialist media around release. Facebook ad's around release.

After a short break Unison Wax returns with a brand new four-track collection of music from the bossman himself, Diego Krause. The Berliner took a year off in 2016, concentrating on other projects and letting the label have a rest, but now he's back with a refined sound. Unison Wax embodies a more sophisticated aesthetic, with warm analogue hues and subtle textures to push things forward a little. After all, we couldn't come back from a break without progressing, huh!
First out of the blocks is 'Nihilate', which helps introduce this updated Unison Wax sound, crisp beats lock us into a groove in conjunction with a dainty selection of analogue effects and a funky little b-line. Diego carefully adds new elements as the track progresses, keeping you interested right until the end.
Next is the title track, 'Rituals', which kicks off with an insistent bassline and spellbinding percussion that keeps you gripped from the off. He throws in some claps to add energy and muted pads, which slowly rise to prominence, giving the track an emotive atmosphere which wraps itself around you. One for the eternal dreamers...
Flip the record over for side B and 'Dysfunction', which turns things grimy. Marauding beats and bass conspire to create a morose atmosphere. Diego's penchant for super sharp beats is present here again, and the energy builds slowly but surely. A new layer creeps in every few bars and sucks you right into the track's lair. Expertly done, and impossible to resist, this is darkside pressure at its best.
'Eudaimonia' rounds things off, with more deep grooves. Initially propelled by minimal percussion, the track really gets going when more beats are added. It maintains a laid back feeling and, while the drums are solid, the atmosphere is mostly quite soft with swirling pads keeping things light in the top end. When they fall away towards the end of the track we have a rather gnarly close to the composition, as the beats and bass take over.
And there it is, the welcome return of Unison Wax - smooth and refined for 2017...

Marc Antona has been always in the pursuit of new expressions within music as he has continually demonstrated with his work. Following the jazz-infused adventures of the Rattle Snaps EP, he finally returns to his own turf to lay down another crucial exploration of beat science. "Hanging Gardens" is a masterclass in immersive programming, fusing the natural feel of live drums with crisp electronic tones that hover in a spacious mix. It's the perfect angle at which to appreciate the subtlety of sound design that goes into every inch of Marc Antona's productions, teasing elements in and out of the mix so gracefully, it's hard to tell where the joints are. The haunting touches of chords and lingering pad are deployed with poise, the intricate percussion progressively rising and falling throughout to create a truly immersive sonic journey. Where the A side deals with angular rhythms and a shape-shifting atmosphere, "Unrestricted" takes the sound palette of organic and electronic elements and feeds them into a rolling, techno-minded focus. The tribal thrum of the beat fills out an 'in-the room-ambience' while the psychoactive synth flurries speak out the pulse of the machines. It's a combination that makes "Unrestricted" as intimate as it is exotic. In combining these disparate feelings within his tracks, Antona once again brings a human feel to the technology, pushing the music into exciting new realms in the process.