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Satya is excited to welcome Sweden’s very own Chris Llopis, a veteran of electronic music, with his highly anticipated EP Echo Ridge, to its vinyl only catalog.

Chris has been a prominent figure in electronic music since the late ‘90s, releasing on respected labels like Fabric Records, Tooloop, and Micronica. Inspired by a trip to Spain at age 13, Chris began DJing on Technics SL1210 turntables and later immersed himself in Copenhagen’s vibrant techno scene. His first vinyl release on Tatsu in 1998 brought him global recognition. Today, Chris’s sound blends timeless influences with modern techniques.

Echo Ridge is inspired by Chris’s love for funk-driven bass lines and the energy of underground raves. “I wanted to create tracks with strong rhythms and a playful edge,” he says. “The bass line is the soul of a track, and this EP captures the vibe of late-night moments when everything clicks.” The EP combines the groove-heavy minimal style of the late ‘90s with a fresh, contemporary edge, delivering tracks that energize the dance floor.

Chris’s creative process thrives during early morning studio sessions. “It’s the perfect time for clarity and creativity,” he shares. For Echo Ridge, Chris used iconic gear like the Juno 106, Elektron Analog Four, Eventide H3000, and Roland Space Echo RE-201, alongside Ableton 12 and Max for Live, to craft its warm, textured sound.

Out on the shelves June 13, 2025, the EP is a celebration of Llopis’s evolution as an artist and his deep connection to the dance floor. With its groove-driven energy and meticulous attention to detail, the release is a must-have for fans of minimal house and vinyl enthusiasts alike.

As 2025 unfolds, Frenzy wastes no time in unleashing its next chapter. For our ninth release, we welcome Ukrainian mastermind Gene Richards Jr.

Known for his raw, uncompromising energy, Gene delivers a blistering 4-track EP rooted in ghetto-driven rhythms and industrial grit. This is no-holds-barred techno - pure, percussive, and primed for peak-time chaos.

Titled Ride This D, the EP kicks off with four original tracks that showcase Gene's signature blend of punchy drum work and infectious vocal chops. The intensity only builds with two standout remixes: UK legend Mark Broom injects his classic mechanical funk into the title track, while Spain's rising phenomenon DJ Swisherman brings an electrified bounce that reimagines the groove through his distinct, playful lens.

From shadowy warehouse floors to open-air summer raves, Ride This D is designed to detonate.

"Mixes Of A Lost World", konzipiert und zusammengetragen von Robert Smith, ist eine neue Remix-Sammlung von Tracks aus The Cure's gefeiertem #1 Album "Songs Of A Lost World", das im November 2024 erschien. Das neue Set enthält 16 brandneue Remixe von Künstlern wie Four Tet, Paul Oakenfold, Orbital und vielen anderen. Die Deluxe-Edition enthält zusätzlich Remixe und Reworks von Chino Moreno (Deftones), Mogwai, 65daysofstatic und vielen mehr. Bei den Künstlern handelt es sich um Freunde von Robert, die die Songs in einer atmosphärischen und stimmungsvollen Art und Weise kreiert haben. Sie sind es, die diesem unglaublichen Album ihre Tiefe verleihen. Die meisten von ihnen stammen selbst aus Bands und begeben sich mit ihren Kreationen auf einen neuen Weg der Entdeckung.

DJ Support: DJ Jazzy Jeff, Mark Knight, Michael Gray, Mousse T., Brian Tappert, Hector Romero, Don Carlos, DJ Fudge, Moodena, Moplen, Birdee, Hotmood, Souldynamic, Ricky Montanari, Husky.

Micky More & Andy Tee's Groove Culture is back with more badman Funky madness and this time it is Shabi in charge, a new emerging talent from Berlin. 'Funky Grooves' is a four-track full of disco goodness and groovy house with a generous amount of funk.

Evaporate 蒸發, Taiwan’s first minimal house label, proudly announces the release of its debut Various Artists vinyl record. This compilation showcases the label’s evolving musical journey and dedication to groove-driven sounds

A-Side: Andrey Djackonda and Solus deliver groovy, minimal house tracks that embody the rhythm and energy of the dance floor.
B-Side: Preesh and Venda explore darker, dub-infused minimal landscapes, offering a contrasting yet complementary vibe.

Evaporate 蒸發 is a label rooted in minimalism, constantly pushing boundaries by fusing elements from diverse genres. With a commitment to innovation and groove, it continues to redefine the soundscape of minimal house music.

What do you get if you put two synthesizer sorcerers in the same room? In the case of Skatebård and Lauer, the answer is Trollkraft. Between them, the Norwegian-German partnership have hundreds of releases, run record labels and have wowed crowds across the globe. In short, the two tracks of Trollkraft are the product of some serious electronic talent. Rich and textured drum layers give way to strings and a vibrating bass for the title piece. Twists and turns abound, elements of disco and house brush shoulders with indie and italo as the pair tear down genre divisions. A 90s heyday influence that runs through both offerings, with “One Night In Geilo” taking its cue from house rhythms and a two-stepping melody adopted from that emblematic decade. Reimagining rave in their own effervescent and playful style, these strobe and fog veterans serve up a fat slice of glow-stick elation. Strings weave high into the dawning sky, bongos and toms reveling next incandescent synthines with just a touch of trance thrown in to add spice to this heady and euphoric mix.

Two tracks from two true masters.

For his second solo album, Officium offers us a free and unrestrained journey through inner worlds, hazy stories, and ghostly traces. Throughout its eight tracks, Light Trap oscillates between immersive textures, impulsive basslines, and rough guitar chords, creating a subtle tension between softness and intensity.

Interlaced with the haunted voice of Lou (1/2 of Reymour) and the precise arrangements of Yolek, this album is the result of meticulous sound work, fueling a constantly moving introspective odyssey.

Light Trap paints a moving chiaroscuro image, like the last rays of light passing through the teeth of a trap, just before it snaps shut on the moment.

The Aachen Jazz Files

A collection of essential jazz from the NABEL record label (1980-1994), compiled by miche & Rainer Truby.

The Aachen Jazz Files celebrates the pioneering spirit of NABEL Records—one of Germany’s most underrated yet influential independent jazz labels. Founded in 1980 by Rainer Wiedensohler, NABEL became a home for innovative musicians blending classic acoustic jazz with fusion, Brazilian rhythms, and avant-garde flourishes.

This compilation collects some of the label’s finest moments, including the soulful and Latin-tinged brilliance of Monika Linges Quartet (whose album *Floating* was reissued last year by PANORAMA Records for RSD Black Friday), the cosmic jazz explorations of John Thomas & Lifeforce, the deep jazz-funk grooves of Hipsters In The Zone, and the stunning, expressive vocals of Maria João’s quintet.

Nestled in the far west of Germany, near the Dutch and Belgian borders, Aachen has long been a hidden gem for jazz lovers. Its vibrant scene, fueled by music schools and the legendary Malteserkeller jazz club, cultivated a unique sound that resonated far beyond its city limits. In fact, the city didn’t just birth a jazz movement—it also lays claim to opening Germany’s first discotheque in 1959.

From London to Tokyo, NABEL’s releases became secret weapons for jazz DJs seeking deep, danceable cuts. The label’s trademark blend of acoustic jazz, fusion, and Brazilian influences made its way onto turntables in underground clubs and festival stages worldwide.

Expect elegant samba jazz, spiritual grooves, and modal masterpieces that capture the essence of NABEL’s golden years. Monika Linges’ contributions shine with her rich harmonies and heartfelt compositions, while John Thomas & Lifeforce deliver a perfect storm of fiery instrumentation and deep soul. Maria João’s early recordings showcase her extraordinary vocal range, and Hipsters In The Zone bring a forward-thinking, acid jazz-infused perspective to the NABEL sound.

As co-compiler Rainer Truby puts it:

'NABEL Records always had this special ‘Aachen sound’—a jazz flavor that carried its own energy, somewhere between the cool sophistication of fusion and the warmth of Brazilian music. It’s a pleasure to finally bring together some of these classics in one essential collection.'

Compiled by miche & Rainer Truby.

PANORAMA Records is a London-based label dedicated to unearthing and reintroducing rare and essential music to new generations. With a focus on jazz, funk, and global grooves, the label has built a reputation for high-quality reissues that capture the spirit of the originals while providing fresh context for today’s listeners. Their past releases have garnered support from tastemakers like Gilles Peterson, Patrick Forge, and Mr Bongo DJs.

2 bangin' big room house edits from the ALIENS ON MUSHROOMS crew. A-side features a cut up shuffley version of the WAILERS classic "COULD YOU BE LOVED." A vocoded STEVE MILLER will have dancers "spinnin round and round" with another classic, "ABRACADABRA" rounding out the B-SIDE

Change, founded in 1980 by Mauro Malavasi, Jacques Fred Petrus, Davide Romani, and
Paolo Gianolio, is a legendary band on the interna#onal soul/disco scene, renowned for
launching iconic voices such as Luther Vandross and Jocelyn Brown.
Their debut album, The Glow of Love, was produced in 1979 between Bologna and New
York. Widely regarded as one of the greatest disco/soul/funk LPs of all #me, it achieved
enormous interna#onal success. It was the first Italian produc#on in this genre to enter the
Billboard 200 chart, peaking at #29 and earning a Gold Record. The singles “A Lover’s
Holiday” (Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100), “Searching,” and the #tle track “The Glow of
Love” (which reached #2 in Italy) solidified the album’s global impact.
So influen#al was the record that in 2001, Janet Jackson sampled the #tle track for her hit
“All for You,” which went on to win the Grammy Award for Best R&B Recording.
Throughout the 1980s, Change released five addi#onal albums:
• Miracles (1981)
• Sharing
Your Love (1982)
• This Is Your Time (1983)
• Change of Heart (1984, produced by Jimmy
Jam & Terry Lewis)
• Turn on Your Radio (1985)
In 2010, the previously unreleased album Change Your Mind—recorded in the 1990s and
produced by Davide Romani—was finally released.
In 2018, aEer a 33-year hiatus, Love 4
Love marked the band’s comeback. Produced by Romani and Stefano Colombo, the album
introduced vocalist Tanya Michelle Smith and featured eight original tracks wriGen by
Romani, Malavasi, Colombo, and Elio Baldi Cantù. The singles included:
• “Hit or Miss” (remixed by Soulpersona)
• “Love 4 Love” (also remixed by Joey Negro)
• “Make Me (Go
Crazy)” (remixed by Opolopo)
Embrace (2025), credited to Change feat. Tanya Michelle Smith, represents the natural
musical evolu#on of Love 4 Love. Originally conceived in 2019 as Tanya Michelle Smith’s solo
album, it was later reviewed by producer Stefano Colombo together with Mauro Malavasi,
who approved the material and authorized the use of the name “Change.” Malavasi also
contributed to the cover design and selected the album #tle: Embrace.
The first single, “Sunrise Forever,” was released on January 10. The remix by Michael Gray
reached #1 on Traxsource and ranked high on the UK Soul Chart.
The album’s release was postponed when Davide Romani and Stefano Colombo decided to
complete an unfinished demo from the Love 4 Love sessions. Some original parts were lost
due to a corrupted backup, but in 2025 the track was completely rearranged with a newly
recorded bassline by Romani and fresh backing vocals.
On April 4, the single “Got 2 Get Up” was released across all digital plaOorms, receiving
strong radio airplay across Europe and entering the UK Soul Chart. On May 16, a remix by
renowned Italian duo Micky More & Andy Tee will be released in an#cipa#on of the album.
Embrace includes ten original tracks and one cover.
The album will be available on CD and vinyl, distributed by Self Distribuzione Srl. The first
500 vinyl copies will be issued as a limited “Expanded Edi&on”, including the full album plus
a bonus 12” single with Michael Gray’s remixes of “Sunrise Forever.”

here may still be electronic music artists in this age of overflow and convenience who follow their own artistic vision regardless of what attention it might bring, if any. With an output that shows individualism, ideas and a signature sound. An ongoing creative process, uncompromising and adventurous, even eccentric, with results of consistent quality and determination. Dennis Busch aka James Din A4 is an archetypical example for this type of artist. He flooded the scene with releases in the 00s with numerous monikers, mostly on his own Esel imprint, and they were all great. On the outside you had his singular artworks (he is also a very accomplished collage artist) and quirkily humorous titles, and on the inside you had his music, also seemingly informed by a collage approach (only with samples), managing to sound focussed and out of focus, often at the same time. If you listen to a James Din A4 track it probably is simultaneously playful and disciplined. Anything can happen, and a lot if it actually does.

For quite some years, music releases by James Din A 4 were scarce. Jan Jelinek, an ardent fan, re-interpreted some of his favourites from the vast back catalogue as an album in 2014, then ten years later the album „Ins Licht“ appeared, and it quite nonchalantly continued what seemed to have stopped, right on the same level of greatness. And now we know that it still continues, as the label Live At Robert Johnson releases the new album „Never Look Back“. Its title should not be taken too literally, as all the trademarks of his musical legacy are perfectly intact. You will find the light and air that seems to seep through the sounds, the frisky structural details, the jolly melodies, the subtle deepness, the minimalistic yet not too strict grooves.

But do not be mistaken, this album is not looking back too much, of course. After all, this is music that is still evolving. Let’s hope for more glimpses of James Din A4‘s special and spacious world, they are ever
needed.

»White Noise« is a cooperation project between raster-media and the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics. Artistic sound projects generated in the context of the scientific research institute will appear at irregular intervals. The themes and questions of empirical aesthetics research are taken up, questioned or challenged in very different ways. »White Noise« is conceived as an audio archive of the MPIEA artists in residence which records the artistic works on vinyl and documents the respective concepts and working methods in text form.

Victioria Keddie’s »Pshal P’shaw« (white noise #002) is a multimedia exploration delving into phonetic expression’s auditory and rhythmic nuances of phonetic expressions through an amalgamation of text, sound, video, data, and customized learning software. Drawing inspiration from the painter and architectural theorist Hermann Finsterlin who made speculative architectural renderings, the project originated during a residency at the Max Planck Institute of Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt in 2023.

The project’s engagement with the sonic landscape of the eight diphthongs in US English, documented through recorded sessions at EEG labs with participants of diverse international backgrounds, is not just a technical analyses. The applied script for the recording session, infused with a contemporary Western US dialect, ventures beyond, exploring the primal essence of phonetic expression and its impact on the oral landscape of mouth, throat, and tongue.

This work focuses on the spoken aspect of language: the art of oration, conversation, and mimicry. It reflects the beauty of our perpetual change, speaking directly to our humanity and the raw, tender moments of existence. It embraces the awkward, beautiful and vulnerable essence of our shared human experience.

Victoria Keddie is a multidisciplinary artist delving into sound, video, installation, and performance. Her work uncovers hidden narratives within ordinary artifacts and spaces, emphasizing their role in shaping our collective story. The examination of acoustic phenomena and language is a recurring theme in her artistic work. Keddie’s current projects navigate the acoustic complexity of language and dialects.

For over a decade, Keddie was co-director of E.S.P. TV, exploring the televisual medium for performance and sound. Keddie has performed and exhibited internationally. Recent fellowships include the NYSCA/NYFA for Music/Sound (2022), the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (2023), and the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Sound Art and Experimental Music Fellowship (2024).

»White Noise«, 40 p. magazine English/German, vinyl LP, cardboard box

Tresor resident DJs LNS and DJ Sotofett have for some years been developing a style at the club‘s Globus floor, and their new EP is a die cut of exactly the classic techno, electro, and house music they play.
Here are no productions drenched in reverb, no hi-fi obsessions or generic algorithmic patterns – this is Globus Trax, the duo's third release on Tresor Records, four tracks consisting of real TR-909 workouts, rude and driving basslines, live runs through the mixing desk, and a Blake Baxter cover version with LNS on vocals.
LNS & DJ Sotofett programmed an EP to perfectly fit their warehouse style of DJing, bringing out colour and variation in a spectrum more similar to a club compilation than a dogmatically reduced concept. With a single repeated vocal sample, Globus Trax opens bombastically with ClickClickClick, a dub -infused UK garage house track anyone in the world can easily describe in the course of a second.
Following this comes Gearbox which is a hefty slab of big room electro featuring a centerpiece arpeggio and the warmest harmonic pads on the EP's four tracks, which not-so-subtly makes reference to the pioneering band that shares a name with Globus and Tresor's home, the Kraftwerk.
The house vibe returns on Destination 909, which is nothing but a manifesto for the TR-909, where the beloved drum machine's jacking beats meet galactic strings and synthetic bass, only to be ripped apart in a slamming break that sees the machine take centre stage as it cuts in-and-out of the mix, again a clear nod to the duo’s sets in the club.
LNS steps up on vocal duties and DJ Sotofett keeps the 909 running for their final cut, taking a deeper dive into the realms of classic techno and paying tribute to “The Prince of Techno” Blake Baxter by covering his Reach Out originally released on Tresor Records in 1995.
The 12” was cut by DJ Sotofett himself at Manmade Mastering, where he resurrects the lost art of late-90s loud cuts with sonic presence and punch, optimal for the club-focused 12” format, and is the first to come in the new Tresor Sleeve, boasting an embossed logo on either side.

You've heard it in many of Bukkha's, Mysticwood's and King Original's sessions, and it made you dance and prance.
The moment you have all been waiting for is here!
BUKKHA003 features grime king, Footsie, pon the mic over a nice rockers style riddim built by the original US dub/steppas king, Bukkha.
Footsie come through and provides a deep meditative vocal flow.
Joining us on the vocal mix and horn cut is trumpet badman, Aba Ariginal.
You already know these are guaranteed ANTHEM vibes!
To close the A side, Bukkha dubs the riddim in his unique style and fashion.
On the flip, man like Charlie Mystic steps up to the plate, and brings new life to the vocals by putting them on a heavy steppas riddim.
Mysticwood takes you on a journey with this one by showing you his versatile style.
All of Mysticwood's cuts are certified bangers to take your session/set to the next level.

CS003, our next offering on wax, is home-grown. The Instruction EP features three original productions by label co-founder Niall Kelly complimented by a remix from the inimitable Carl Finlow. Niall’s debut EP showcases his prowess as producer harking to a pool of influences found in the sonic DNA of our hometown of Leeds, with added firepower provided by a legendary artist with close ties to the city.

Echoes of the rowdy bygone Mint Club ooze through the slappy tech house roller ’Section 1’ which opens the record. The chunky basslines retro synths and robotic vocoder connect the dots from Niall’s palette to the unmistakeable sound of Yorkshire Bleep on ‘Seven Wolves’. Carl’s treatment of ‘Section 1’ pivots into a darker, dystopian soundscape full of fizzing hi hats and dizzying synths that amalgamate into a dancefloor shaker that is unmistakably Finlow. The EP is rounded off by Groove Key, a track which serves up a special disorientating euphoria designed to be heard on large soundsystems and felt deep within your bones.

A noughties classic, an earworming anthem, an eventual schoolyard ringtone favourite; Roman Flügel’s once inescapable ‘Geht’s Noch?’ celebrates turning 21 on Running Back, refreshed and remixed by a scene-spanning set of artists paying keen tribute to its absurdist energy.
Casually released as part of a Cocoon Records compilation in 2004, ‘Geht’s Noch?’ rose from the depths with the support of Sven Väth, becoming an international phenomenon, conquering and uniting the dominant scenes of minimal and electroclash alike. Some have said it laid the foundations for the ‘Dirty Dutch’
house scene, albeit from over the border in Germany.
Well known for injecting much-needed levity into the contemporary club landscape via her Live From Earth parties, DJ Gigola adds additional firepower to ‘Geht’s Noch?’, inducing a planet-shaking kick drum, before sending the track’s signature bleeps into nonsensical Morse code for even greater pleasure. Another rave
culture connoisseur, Luca Lozano, offers two alternate takes; his ‘Technocs’ mix rolls deep with additional cowbells, robotic voice commands and stadium-sized claps. Meanwhile, the ‘Gehts Garage Remix’ draws a savvy connection with the original’s as-yet-untapped UK funky potential.
Peder Mannerfelt, who straddles the line between innovation, functionality, humor and seriousness quite like its original author, takes ‘Geht’s Noch?’ to truly wuthering heights. His remix builds unexpected drama and catharsis around the enduring riff, before a collaboration with studio partner Par Grindvik as Aasthma
spins the club out with a glossy, anime-tinted take, full of whimsy and colour.
And while the digital release of Geht’s Noch? also spans interpretations from Audion, Domnik Eulberg & Moguai, this vinyl release presses Steve Angello vs Who’s Who remix to wax, that which helped take ‘Geht’s Noch?’ out of the underground and into the stratosphere. Twenty years on, and Flügel’s offbeat hit is always ascending. Love it or hate it, ‘Geht’s Noch?' will still get you good.
Words by John Loveless

LIMITED VINYL COMES IN CARDBOARD SLEEVE WITH BOOKLET!
OSTRANENIE is a collection of digitally manipulated, impressionistic piano miniatures — each named after blockbuster films and TV series. Improvised late at night as a reaction against passive media consumption, these pieces function as both homage and critique, navigating the space between classical impressionism and contemporary digital manipulation. They don’t just deconstruct traditional piano expression; they interrogate the emotional stakes of sound in an era where immersion culture flattens meaning and algorithmic logic erodes agency.

The album’s title references the Russian formalist Viktor Shklovsky’s concept of “ostranenie” (ɐstrɐˈnjenjɪj, estrangement/defamiliarization), a term he introduced in the early 1920s to describe art’s role in resisting the indifference of habitual perception.

“And so, held accountable for nothing, life fades into nothingness. Automation eats away at things, at clothes, at furniture, at our wives, and at our fear of war.”
—Viktor Shklovsky, Theory of Prose (1925)

Shklovsky saw art as a way to break through the anesthetizing effects of routine, stripping away the layers of habit that dull our senses. By making the familiar strange, art reclaims perception from the mechanical and the automatic. His argument wasn’t just a theoretical exercise — it was a response to a world rapidly consumed by industrialization, war machines, and the alienation of a technologically dominated modern life. In this context, he positioned artistic technique as something autonomous, distinct from mere social criticism or psychological reflection. Art seeks to remove “...the crust that the world of things deposits on our senses, with routine’s unending murder of the real.” Ben Ehrenreich on Serena Vitale’s Making Strange (The Nation, 2013)

This tension—between revolutionary/artistic and industrial technologies—defined the 20th century, and it continues to resonate today. The mechanization and automation that fueled the First World War’s devastation, alongside the social and economic turbulence of the 1920s, became central to the era’s self-conception. But just as technology was a source of alienation, it was also positioned as an agent of radical change. As the shock of modernity disrupted the human condition, it also became the driving force behind an ideological utopia — one that ultimately deformed into political totalitarianism — a paradox that remains unresolved.

OSTRANENIE plays within this contradiction. The music shifts seamlessly between an uncanny black MIDI dismantling of traditional piano virtuosity and moments of raw, fragile intimacy. The result is a work that resists automatic anonymity while questioning what it means to create in an era where the technological mediation of sound — and experience itself — is unavoidable: Art in the age of its technological constructedness.

An intersection of original dubs and outernational electronica, Ashtech’s Walkin’ Target, produced and co-written by Gaudi, was originally released in 2007 on cult Canadian label Interchill and is now presented for the first time on vinyl.

Tightly structured, Walkin’ Target revolves around Ashtech’s earth rattling basslines and Gaudi's solid production aesthetic, with three of the tracks featuring the inimitable vocal stylings of Cheshire Cat (Leftfield). A former bass player with Almamegretta, Ashtech’s intuitive style combined with Gaudi’s melodic flair to create a joyful collection of groove orientated roots and downtempo dubs that upon release found a home in the collection of music lovers worldwide.

Long deleted and not available on any mainstream download or streaming platforms, Ashtech dug out the original audio files, which were lovingly re-mastered for this pressing.

Renato Cohen, the Brazilian techno and house producer and DJ best known for his iconic track *Pontapé*, has been a powerhouse in the electronic music scene since the late '90s. Born in São Paulo in 1974, Cohen's career has spanned nearly three decades, marked by releases on some of the industry's most respected labels, including Carl Cox's Intec, Technasia's Sino, Marc Romboy's Systematic, Pets Recordings, and Defected. Known not only for his studio work but also for his dynamic live P.A. shows, Cohen is a true legend. We had the fortune to connect with him after a Boiler Room set in Brazil where he played *Sting the Floor*, a true floor-filler that electrified the room. Since then, our friendship has flourished, leading to this powerful EP. The EP features « Roaring », an outstanding house track that channels Cohen's heart and soul into every arpeggio and swirling melody, bringing to mind the best of Todd Terje's hypnotic grooves. It's a piece that builds momentum with finesse, crafting a sound both grand and intimate, resonating with every listener. « Roaring » is Cohen's homage to house music—a track that encapsulates his passion and mastery. Accompanying « Roaring » is « Wet Desert », a high-caliber production that's as immersive as it is intense. The track carries a deep, evocative energy, combining Cohen's deft touch with an expansive, desert-inspired soundscape. Through our connection, we've brought in The Floorfillers for an acid remix of « Roaring », putting a fresh twist on Cohen's original with a pulsating acid bassline that's reminiscent of our own « Edit1 ». It's a version that takes « Roaring » to new, harder-hitting heights, perfect for late-night dance floors. To complete this standout release, Skylax's own Maltitz has crafted a stunning Italo-Balearic remix, drawing from the spirit of the late David Mancuso. With its warm, nostalgic vibes, Maltitz's remix adds a lush, sun-soaked dimension to « Roaring », perfect for balmy evenings and open-air gatherings. This EP marks a powerful comeback for Renato Cohen, celebrating his career while pushing forward with new, fresh sounds that honor his legacy.

Produced by Chez Damier and Ron Trent, the track was born in NYC, inspired by a transformative night at the legendary Sound Factory Club. In the early morning haze, as the echoes of basslines and rhythms lingered, the duo channeled the energy of the dancefloor into their studio. The result captured the raw, soulful essence of Deep House, reflecting the dancefloor communion that transcended time and space. To extend the feeling while honoring the original, Atjazz was invited to bring his jazz-influenced touc

With his deep understanding of groove and texture, he reimagined the track through two distinct remixes, each offering a fresh perspective. While both versions explore different nuances, they remain faithful to the track’s core essence, maintaining its hypnotic flow while adding a renewed vibrancy to the dancefloor. The duo of Chez Damier and Ben Vedren, proudly welcome French producer Fred H, one of the closest members of their extended musical family, to deliver a special remix of their track "Berlin Nights In Paris".

The result is a re-imagination of the track, introducing a percussive soundscape that drives the rhythm forward while offering a space for the listeners' minds to wander, immersing them in an atmospheric journey. This reinterpretation preserves the original’s essence while infusing it with new textures, dynamic movement, and a hypnotic flow that deepens its emotional impact.

This collaboration is more than just a remix. It’s a testament to the creative synergy within their musical circle, reinforcing the timeless spirit of house music while pushing it forward. er. Through his deep connection to what truly ignites the dancefloor, DJ SOURIRES maintains the emotive spirit of the original track, keeping its essence intact, yet injecting fresh dynamics that transforms it into a high-octane dancefloor heat track. His intricate, oscillating drum programming and masterful arrangement drive the rhythm forward, creating a compelling urgency that commands attention and movement. The remix swells with intensity, amplifying the hypnotic elements of the original while layering in driving percussion, rich basslines, and sharp, yet spacious synths that build tension and release in all the right moments. Every twist and turn in this remix is an invitation to lose yourself in the dance.

"Throughout all my time as a musician and producer, ever since Jack the Tab, I've been focused on developing a single idea: Blending psychedelic sounds and effects with rhythm." Richard Norris, Strange Things Are Happening White Rabbit 2024

Over the past few years Eskimo Recordings have invited some of the best crate diggers around to curate compilations that don't just reveal the hidden contents of their record bags but something about themselves too. Now, following in the footsteps of the likes of Bill Brewster and Psychemagik, producer, musician, DJ, writer and more, Richard Norris, takes us on a globetrotting psychedelic journey with the epic 42 track collection, Mr Norris Changes Brains.

For over forty years Richard has played a part in many of the UK's most important music subcultures. Whether sharing stages with the likes of Tracey Thorn as a pubescent punk in St. Albans, or running freakbeat nights in Liverpool and working at the pioneering psychedelic label Bam Caruso, co-producing the UK's first acid house inspired LP with Throbbing Gristle's Genesis P. Orridge or riding the wave of creativity that the second summer of love unleashed all the way to the Top of the Pop studios as The Grid, Richard's career has continually seen him work to expand both his own and the public's musical horizons.

With Mr Norris Changes Brains it's the most recent part of his mercurial career that he's focused on. Drawing inspiration from his post 2006 adventures as one half of Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve, alongside Trash's Erol Alkan, this compilation shows how a more connected world has blown the dust off a paradoxically sometimes straightjacketed scene. The result is a dizzyingly wide-ranging collection that explores the further out there reaches of worldwide psychedelia and dancefloor mayhem.

"A lot of these tracks are fairly recent discoveries, things that I've discovered from around the time I started working with Erol and going right up to today," Richard explains. "Whether that's from going out to play and finding new records in places like Istanbul or just connecting with people online from all around the world. Psych can sometimes be a sort of narrow-minded field, with everything having to sit in its specific niche, but more and more people are open to new sounds and that's allowed for a much broader selection."

Despite their disparate origins what does unite these tracks is that they aren't just there to zone out to on a bean bag as projections of swirling coloured oils and psychedelic patterns wash over you. Mr Norris may change brains but his DJ sets also move feet, and whether it's their killer guitar riffs, oscillating synths floor shaking drums or soulful Hammond organs these are all cuts that from festival tents to underground clubs have proven time and time again to get people dancing.

"With a lot of these tracks there's a kind of fun element in them," says Richard. "It's still psychedelia, but they've also got these solid, funky grooves. They sound phenomenal on the dancefloor and as much as these records might excite old psych heads, this compilation is also for a new generation out there who might have never heard anything like this before and, just like when I was 18 and heard The 13th Floor Elevators for the first time, think 'Oh, my God, what on earth is this and more importantly what else is out there?'"

As most of us now live in a world saturated with information, this album feels like a reflection of how the modern world might sound if it were to process its own chaos through a unified scream. Hailing from the highlands of Bandung, West Java, a city where tradition and modernization intertwine in the rhythm of daily life, Xin Lie unpretentiously translates this cultural fusion into a sonically rich and rhythmically bold debut LP.

The artist’s roots in the hardcore and punk scenes reverberate throughout the album, though they’ve been reshaped and refined for the club. There’s an undeniable pleasure in experiencing the chaos Xin Lie channels—irregular beats, dynamic frequencies, and disjointed grooves collide and expand, each track laced with a sense of unpredictable energy. Yet even in its most chaotic moments, the music feels deliberate, its edges softened by a sense of compositional care.

The album reveals a strange duality: tracks that seem to beckon you to the dance floor but never quite let you settle there. Frequencies flicker and fluctuate in patterns that feel just slightly off-grid, as though resisting traditional structures. Yet, amidst the digital textures, Xin Lie weaves in organic sounds—snippets of native conversations or environmental noise—creating layers that feel both intimate and expansive.It’s fair to say this album extends far beyond the boundaries of today’s club music.

Picture this: you’re moving through your daily routines—mundane, repetitive—and suddenly, the music shifts your perspective. It reframes the ordinary as something surreal, as though it’s deconstructing itself in real-time, breaking into fragments or conjuring entirely new forms. Perhaps it’s best imagined as the soundtrack to a multi-sensory art installation or a performance staged not in a gallery but in an unassuming house down your street. Who’s to say where it might take you?

SWIFT004 presents Dynamic Bones, a fresh project from two Romanian producers working together under a shared alias. The Turbo Noir EP is the result of a focused studio collaboration, with the mix completed alongside Cristi Cons and mastering handled by Marco Pellegrino at Analogcut Mastering. A carefully crafted record that comes with high energy. Get your copy!

Selekt Sounds proudly launches its vinyl-only imprint Selekt Wax with an evocative EP from Dragomir, one of Bucharest’s most prominent voices in minimal. Deeply introspective yet effortlessly hypnotic, this record is a meditation on space, tension, and the emotional resonance of stripped down groove. Each track pulses with a quiet intensity—crafted with care, driven by instinct, and tuned to the inner ear.

Etched on the sleeve, a poem sets the tone:

the space between the sounds
expansion and contraction
allow what comes up to flow
ebb like the ocean waves
keeping in time with the synchrony
manipulating sound waves
helps navigate the now
can you hear yourself between the sound?
in the space between.

Much like the words that frame it, this release invites listeners to tune in—not just to the music, but to the stillness it surrounds.

A1 Trust - A hypnotic minimal roller built around a looping vocal mantra, jazzy percussive details, and swirling psychedelic textures. Subtle yet immersive, it invites deep focus and surrender.

A2 Mirroring - Moody, meditative, and rich in detail, Mirroring unfolds through broken rhythms and shadowy textures—perfect for reflective moments on or off the dancefloor.

B1 Irresolute - With a steady 4x4 pulse and airy, emotional pads, Irresolute balances tension and release in a way that feels both uplifting and unresolved. A track for when the night blurs into morning.

"Bassland Prophecy" was a collection of Southern California musicians, including Alex Xenophon (Deep Squared), Stuart Breidenstein (formerly of Skylab 2000), Alissa Kueker (vocals), and Maxx Vaxx (Euterpre, Butterfly Garden).

The act nourished and grew the emerging LA scene and was a renegade force in live electronic improvisation. Rather than composing full tracks, Breidenstein stated over email that they built musical "ingredients" on the fly, syncing DOS and hardware sequencers mid-performance. Their unpredictable sets, from illegal raves to makeshift desert parties, resulted in electrifying, unforgettable sonic trips.

Recalling 90s LA, Breidenstein said: “Before the internet, finding a rave was an adventure. You’d get a flyer with a phone number, call it the night of the event, then drive—sometimes 100 miles or more from a map point to the actual party. The scene was raw and underground, built by music obsessives hunting for the freshest sounds.”

Two standout tracks from 1996—“Nine / Deeper” and “Blue and Purple Starship of Trust”—perfectly represent their unique genre-bending concoctions. Against all odds, the recordings survived and have been given new life, remastered and reissued on Bristol-based *Sex Tapes From Mars*. To produce the wizardry, their setup included a Juno 106, Yamaha FB-01, a Roland S330 sampler, and a Sequential Circuits Pro-One mono synth with external MIDI, and some guitar effects pedals.

“Nine / Deeper,” born from one of their many spontaneous studio sessions, became eerily intertwined with recurring appearances of the number 9 and black cats. So much was the frequency of apophenia episodes that paranoia began to take over the artists. Recorded in a makeshift living room studio, the 14-minute excursion traverses genres and tempos, beginning quick and hypnotic, and climaxing chuggy and drenched in adlibbed acid lines, culminating in a surreal and legendary live performance in Hollywood. The piece captures the raw spontaneity of their sets, crafted with vintage gear, cassette tape recordings, and, as always, a DIY ethos. Breidenstein states, “While improvised sessions often failed, when it succeeded, it was definitely a kind of infectious magic the listener would recognize.”

“The Blue and Purple Starship of Trust” is a deeply personal piece, named after when Breidenstein saw a heavenly blue morning glory on a walk around his neighborhood, and emerged from heartbreak and the following deep depression entrenching his life at the time. Recorded in a single take onto cassette tape, blending piano, guitar, and heart-rending vocals into an emotional, dreamlike journey. The track starts with a lush, cascading synth sound, bolstered up by rolling, reverbing downtempo drums. Using Sequential Circuits Pro-One throughout, the rippling synths and off-key piano licks act like pipetted droplets of water, all elements bleeding into each other in some kind of hallucinogenic swelling, reflecting Breidenstein’s fading relationship. The guitar part is a nod to Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and Breidenstein recalls just “bawling as the guitar line was recorded.”

Created in a time of artistic struggle, living in an old school bus, surviving on instant noodles while hauling their gear from venue to venue, and scraping by on gig money, these recordings act as rare artifacts of a movement that thrived on passion and perseverance, standing as a poignant testament to resilience. Though they released a handful of tracks, ranging from deep house to ambient to techno, their true legacy lay in their high-energy, genre-blurring live shows, which are powerfully encapsulated within these recordings and leave a lasting impact on underground electronic music today.

To survive the AI’s purge, humanity encoded its memories into sound and launched them to the farthest corners of the galaxy. Planet Boom is one such archive. A world made of dreams, memories, and fractured timelines, reassembled through sonic fragments.

Planet Boom is the arena. The Serpent has issued a challenge: four warriors, one chance to shift the balance of power through sound alone. Each codebreaker brings their weapon. Sweater with his nimble footwork and striking rhythm combos. Reyer with a crushing, tactical onslaught. Poten with cerebral unpredictability. Lukey with a flowing, adaptive style that reads the room like an open circuit. Only one will decode the final key. The rest will be echoes. Planet Boom is the battleground. Let the soundclash begin.

"Throughout all my time as a musician and producer, ever since Jack the Tab, I've been focused on developing a single idea: Blending psychedelic sounds and effects with rhythm." Richard Norris, Strange Things Are Happening White Rabbit 2024

Over the past few years Eskimo Recordings have invited some of thebest crate diggers around to curate compilations that don't just reveal the hidden contents of their record bags but something about themselves too. Now, following in the footsteps of the likes of Bill Brewster and Psychemagik, producer, musician, DJ, writer and more, Richard Norris, takes us on a globetrotting psychedelic journey with the epic 42 track collection, Mr Norris Changes Brains.

For over forty years Richard has played a part in many of the UK's most important music subcultures. Whether sharing stages with the likes of Tracey Thorn as a pubescent punk in St. Albans, or running freakbeat nights in Liverpool and working at the pioneering psychedelic label Bam Caruso, co-producing the UK's first acid house inspired LP with Throbbing Gristle's Genesis P. Orridge or riding the wave of creativity that the second summer of love unleashed all the way to the Top of the Pop studios as The Grid, Richard's career has continually seen him work to expand both his own and the public's musical horizons.

With Mr Norris Changes Brains it's the most recent part of his mercurial career that he's focused on. Drawing inspiration from his post 2006 adventures as one half of Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve, alongside Trash's Erol Alkan, this compilation shows how a more connected world has blown the dust off a paradoxically sometimes straightjacketed scene. The result is a dizzyingly wide-ranging collection that explores the further out there reaches of worldwide psychedelia and dancefloor mayhem.

"A lot of these tracks are fairly recent discoveries, things that I've discovered from around the time I started working with Erol and going right up to today," Richard explains. "Whether that's from going out to play and finding new records in places like Istanbul or just connecting with people online from all around the world. Psych can sometimes be a sort of narrow-minded field, with everything having to sit in its specific niche, but more and more people are open to new sounds and that's allowed for a much broader selection."

Despite their disparate origins what does unite these tracks is that they aren't just there to zone out to on a bean bag as projections of swirling coloured oils and psychedelic patterns wash over you. Mr Norris may change brains but his DJ sets also move feet, and whether it's their killer guitar riffs, oscillating synths floor shaking drums or soulful Hammond organs these are all cuts that from festival tents to underground clubs have proven time and time again to get people dancing.

"With a lot of these tracks there's a kind of fun element in them," says Richard. "It's still psychedelia, but they've also got these solid, funky grooves. They sound phenomenal on the dancefloor and as much as these records might excite old psych heads, this compilation is also for a new generation out there who might have never heard anything like this before and, just like when I was 18 and heard The 13th Floor Elevators for the first time, think 'Oh, my God, what on earth is this and more importantly what else is out there?'"

Crowns by The Rebel feat. Corey James Gray is out now on 7’’ via Little Beat More!
The Rebel, aka Tommaso Taroni, producer from Rome and Founder of DJ’s Choice label, delivers a raw, soulful track that opens the door to his debut album. Crowns features the sharp lyrics and smooth, magnetic delivery by Corey James Gray (FKA Ill Spookin), riding over a sturdy groove with crisp drums and deep guitar loops.
On Side B a further explosion comes: Clap! Clap! signs a Power Trio remix of the track that flips everything on its head. With thunderous syncopated riddim and wild brass stabs, this version hits like a futuristic brass band from New Orleans: unrelenting, joyful, and rhythmically overpowering. A bold reimagining by one of Italy’s most visionary electronic producers.
Packaged in a stunning disco bag illustrated by El Moro, this 7” is both a record to play and a piece to keep. A snapshot of a fresh project in the pipeline, ready to go!

For the latest Klasse Wrecks release, the label combine with Japan's finest festival and events crew Rainbow Disco Club to collaboratively present WRECKSRDC. Overrocket were an electro-pop band from Tokyo that enjoyed a grip of great releases in the early 2000s while signed to Neon Discs and its parent label Aten. During a digging session Luca Lozano discovered the forgotten tracks 'Duralumin' and 'Shadow of the Sun' and immediately set out trying to contact the band's members to arrange a re-release and remix. A few months of patient trying, the connection was finally made and wheels were set in motion. Musically the EP conjures up perfectly the sonics of that time, a grey area between analog convention and the unexplored territories of new digital freedom. Shadow Of The Sun is electro-pop perfection, with breezy vocals and a bouncing beat that sounds like nothing else around...past, present or future. Duralumin is a more dancey collection of blips and beats, one that will make sense in the current return to early 2000s aesthetics. To round out the release and propel it into 2025, KW label bosses take a track each and interpret in their own way. Lozano revisits his electro roots with two remixes of Shadow of the Sun, distorted 808s and growling 101 basslines provide a simple backdrop for the perfect vocals. Mr. Ho takes Duralumin into a more driving and pacey direction, upping the energy and excitement with fast percussion and a huge side chained breakdown that recalls the unbridled rawness of the early 2000s, when everything was just a little bit more fun. Keeping within the confines of Japan and in an effort to bring everything full circle, the label enlisted Japanese artist Gonno to master the tracks for an updated modern sound. The tracks themselves being mastered a few miles from where they were originally penned over 20 years ago.

In an ever-expanding musical universe, Azymuth have long existed as a celestial giant, drawing countless artists, musicians and followers into their orbit. Marking fifty years since their 1975 debut album Azimuth, their new album Marca Passo proves that the band’s alchemic brew of Brazilian jazz-funk and cosmic samba soul remains as vital as ever, as the group honours the profound legacy of their departed founders.

Recorded in Rio de Janeiro, Marca Passo is the first full-length release since the passing of founding drummer Ivan "Mamão" Conti in 2023, following the earlier loss of keyboardist José Roberto Bertrami in 2012. Alex Malheiros, the sole remaining original member, sees his stewardship of the band’s musical legacy as his spiritual duty. He is joined by the equally devoted Kiko Continentino (Milton Nascimento, Djavan) on keyboards, who has been with the group since 2016, and new recruit Renato Massa (Marcos Valle, Ed Motta) on drums.

Yet since their earliest recorded music, Azymuth have always been far greater than the sum of their parts. The "three-man orchestra’s" unmistakable sound is rooted in Brazil's MPB studio scene of the 1970s and early 1980s—a time when artists blended traditional Brazilian rhythms with global jazz, rock, and emerging psychedelic and progressive elements. Marca Passo continues this legacy, seamlessly fusing Brazilian musical traditions with global influences while showcasing the exceptional musicianship that powers Azymuth's distinctive, multi-dimensional sound.

The album is produced by studio mastermind Daniel Maunick, responsible for Azymuth’s two previous studio albums, Fênix in 2016 and Aurora in 2011. Daniel’s credits also include albums by Marcos Valle, Sabrina Malheiros and Terry Callier. Azymuth also invited Daniel’s father, British jazz-funk royalty Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick, of Incognito, to play guitar on a new version of Azymuth’s eighties classic “Last Summer In Rio”, in tribute to the song’s composer, José Roberto Bertrami. Equally, “Samba Pro Mamao” is a new composition dedicated to Azymuth’s beloved original drummer, Ivan “Mamão” Conti.

Credits:

Alex Malheiros - Bass, Acoustic Guitar & Vocals: 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Kiko Continentino - Keyboards, Organ, Vocoder & Vocals: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Renato Massa - Drums & Vocals: : 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
Ian Moreira - Percussion: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
Sidinho Moreira - Percussion: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10
Dudu Viana - Keyboards & Vocals: 1
Victor Bertrami - Drums: 1
Mangueirinha - Repinique: 3
Jean Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick - Electric Guitar: 5
Jose Carlos Bigorna - Soprano Sax: 9
Daniel Maunick: Additional Percussion, Synths & EFX: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Produced, Engineered, Mixed & Arranged by Daniel Maunick
Co-Produced & Arranged by Alex Malheiros
Executive Producer: Joe Davis


Recorded by:
Daniel Maunick & Leonardo Vieira @ Estúdio Nos Trilhos, Santa Teresa, Rio, Brazil
Daniel Maunick & Amadeu Signorelli @ Sigstudio, Niterói, Rio, Brazil
Daniel Maunick & Alex Malheiros @ Estúdio Basslab, Piratininga, Rio, Brazil
Mixed by Daniel Maunick @ The Sugar Shack, Carluke, Scotland


Artwork & Design: Tyler Askew

Crash! Boom! Bang! 30-year anniversary celebrated with a unique special edition: a double album in black and white vinyl with 18 tracks and an 8-page booklet.

30 years ago, Roxette released their fifth album "Crash! Boom! Bang!", including a stream of hit singles like "Sleeping In My Car", the title track, "Fireworks", "Run To You" and "Vulnerable". The album would sell more than five million copies and was followed by their second World Tour, which saw them perform for over a million people, including the second performance ever by an international act in China.

“Roxette were among the three most played artists on American radio during 1989, 1990 and 1991, and we were on top of the charts all over the world. So, it's no wonder we felt pretty confident when it was time to record the new album”, Per Gessle says. “Having had that kind of success made us feel that we had a perfect opportunity to stretch out into new directions. To show slightly different sides of what Roxette could be. And I still think "Crash! Boom! Bang" is our best album”. Crash! Boom! Bang! saw chart success upon release, No. 1 in Sweden, No. 2 in Germany and No. 3 in Australia and the UK.

Roxette – Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle – came out of Sweden in the late 80’s. Their game was pop, their mission to conquer the world. With 33 chart-busting singles and total record sales exceeding 75 million, it seems safe to say “mission accomplished”.

Daniel Monaco and John Noseda join forces for Alektra, a new project born out of a deep love for Hi-NRG and raw 808 sounds. Renowned for their dj sets, trips that delve into tropical obscurities, Chicago jack and Rimini romances, the pair have channelled a unique blend of untamed house and shimmering italo melodies into pure dancefloor euphoria. Their debut release, “Shake Your Body,” drops on Bordello A Parigi. Neon synthwork is punctured by clean punches of percussion, scaling melodies set firmly in the golden analogue era. Key stabs drive the track with Only Bee’s honeyed lyrics pushing the energy levels higher. In true 1980s anthem form, the flip is dedicated to the instrumental with the synthesizers and their hypnotic melodies taking centre stage: Alektra’s machines smouldering with fiery intensity. That same intensity closes, Only Bee’s mellifluous vocals given the limelight for the acapella close. Dancefloor definitions redefined. Welcome to Alektra.

When you’re running a label, a demo occasionally comes across your desk that makes you reconsider everything you thought your label was all about. For Balmat, such was the case with this stunning album from Stephen Vitiello, Brendan Canty, and Hahn Rowe. It sounds like nothing we’ve released so far—and that very otherness opened up a whole new world of possibilities for us.

Fans of ambient, experimental electronic music, and sound art will be familiar with Vitiello, a New York native, long based in Virginia, who has collaborated with a cross-generational list of greats: Taylor Deupree, Steve Roden, Lawrence English, Tetsu Inoue, Nam June Paik, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Pauline Oliveros, and many more. On labels like 12k, Room40, and Sub Rosa, he has explored a wide range of minimalism, microsound, lowercase, ambient, improv, and other styles. But this album is something different. It may begin in ambient-adjacent territory, but it quickly veers off, and it just keeps zigzagging, taking on elements of krautrock, post-punk, dub, and the groove-heavy interplay of groups like Natural Information Society and 75 Dollar Bill.

This stylistic turn is thanks in large part to Vitiello’s choice of collaborators. “We’re coming from three different schools,” Vitiello says: “sound art, art rock, and punk rock.”

Active since the early 1980s, Rowe—a violinist, guitarist, and producer/engineer—has played with, or manned the boards for, a frankly jaw-dropping list of musicians: Herbie Hancock, Gil Scott-Heron, the Last Poets, Roy Ayers, John Zorn, Glenn Branca, Swans, Live Skull, Brian Eno, David Byrne, Anohni, R.E.M., Yoko Ono, and many more. But he might be most closely associated with Hugo Largo, a one-of-a-kind New York quartet—two basses, vocals, and Rowe’s violin—that in the late 1980s helped lay the groundwork for what would eventually become known as post-rock.

Canty, of course, is the legendary drummer of Fugazi, the visionary DC post-hardcore group, as well as Rites of Spring before them, and, currently, the Messthetics, a Dischord-signed instrumental trio with guitarist Anthony Pirog and Fugazi bassist Joe Lally.

Vitiello’s trio first collaborated on First, a 17-minute piece released on the Longform Editions label in 2023. Second picks up where the freeform drift of First left off, channeling the trio’s exploratory energies into more intentionally structured tracks and—in a real first for Balmat—some almost shockingly muscular grooves. “Sometimes my projects are more conceptually driven,” Vitiello says, “but I think this was more musically geared. I just wanted to open up the references and bring in an incredible drummer, bring in some melodies, and I’m sort of the center.” But his collaborators, he stresses, are “vastly creative in making anything I might suggest better.”

Like its predecessor, Second took shape in phases, shifting between improvisation and collage. Vitiello laid down the skeleton of the music at home, sketching out initial ideas on Rhodes keyboard and acoustic and electric guitar; he then fed the parts through samplers and his modular system, recording 10- or 20-minute jams. Once he had edited them into more structured forms, he hit the studio with Canty, who added not just drums but also bass and piano; finally, Vitiello took the results of those sessions to Rowe, who played violin, viola, electric bass, and 12-string acoustic and bowed electric guitar, and assisted in some of the final structuring and mixdown.

A few more surprises along the way: Reanimator’s Don Godwin, the studio engineer where Vitiello recorded with Canty, contributed what he calls “resonant dustpan”; and none other than Animal Collective’s Geologist, who just happened to be in the studio that day, sits in on hurdy gurdy on “Mrphgtrs1,” the album’s gorgeous, stunningly atmospheric drone closer. “I love these chance encounters,” Vitiello says. “Somebody I admire, a group I admire—that was an unexpected gift.”

An unexpected gift is a great way of describing Second as a whole: three veteran musicians venturing outside their usual zones and finding a new collaborative language together. The results can’t be neatly slotted into any given genre; they belong not to any given category, but to the spirit of conversation itself.

wiggle room is the long-overdue Blip Discs debut from pq - founding member of Nihiloxica (Nyege Nyege Tapes, Crammed Discs) and long-time label affiliate.

On the A-side, “igglewiggle” and “aliens!” augment UK styles to deliver two bassy heavy hitters. The more experimental B-side starts off very B2 with “ketty stepper anthem” and its wonked-out polyrhythm, before a stripped-back VIP of “aliens” closes the record.

Having made his mark as a core force behind Nihiloxica — the Bugandan-techno outfit whose explosive live shows earned global acclaim — pq now hones a functional club sensibility he first showed on Lapsus Records and his own label Spooky Shit.

wiggle room balances an adventurous energy with serious bass-weight, never stopping to stroke its proverbial chin even once. A definitive, forward facing statement that expands the peripheries of the dancefloor in an ever evolving UK bass-music continuum.

Following the success of his ‘Love Dub So’ EP, Nick Barber’s Doof project returns to Mysticisms, delving back to his earliest recordings of his ground-breaking Trance project, presenting tracks from his previously cassette only release ‘The Love Mixes’.

A youth that had captured the psychedelia of Pink Floyd, Gong, Hawkwind and on to Psychic TV, as a self-taught guitarist, his first trip to India and Thailand in 1989 and witnessing the early electronic dance music at the Full Moon parties, had seemed rudimentary in nature compared to musicality of psychedelic rock.

Returning to England, the electronic / rock crossover of The Shamen’s ‘Progeny’ parties – featuring DJs like Paul Oakenfold and Mixmaster Morris with the live acts of Orbital and Ramjac Corporation – offered something new that turned his head, before finally finding his crew in the legendary squat / underground Pagan parties. There, residents Lol and Yaz first played the new electronic Trance sound, introducing Barber to the music of Eye-Q, Dance To Trance and the hugely influential Pete Namlook.

Recorded between 1990 – 1991, while living in Cambridge to study Philosophy, these are the first versions of tracks that formed the basis of his debut EP on Novamute, in 1993. Working with minimal equipment – an Akai sampler, Roland monosynth, Yamaha delay pedal, all sequenced on an Atari black and white PC and single MIDI output and then recorded straight to an 8-track Tascam cassette multitrack – the exuberance and rawness of the music are full of the excitement and naivety of youth.

Never intended for public release or initially even as a demo, Barber would play the music off the Tascam multitrack for friends at after parties. Dubbing a handful of cassettes himself and personally drawing the covers, around a dozen cassettes were handed out to mates. Eventually one copy found its way to Mute Records, who were looking to launch their dance offshoot, Novamute. Re-edited mixes of Gift Of The Gods and The Nagual appeared on his debut EP and history was made, before Doof went on to release for luminaries like TIP Records and Dragonfly and a career touring the globe was launched.

Remastered from the original tapes, this EP offers a snapshot of that time, the energy and joy of these early recordings is clear and overwhelming. Where Ambient, House and Techno met the birth of electronic Trance that truly stand up some 30 years later as originals then and now.

Trance The Mystery.

Introducing the second release under the Statica imprint “MyCn18: Engraved Hourglass”

STATICA002 comes from Berlin-based artist Johannes Mai aka John Spring. John's productions have gained legendary notoriety over the past decade with his early releases revered for their timeless sound and experimental edge, whilst always keeping to a ritual of dancefloor compatibility. An influential artist who pushed the boundaries of minimalism and helped lay the foundations that have sculpted the sound of the present. It's a great honour to be releasing his first EP in over 13 years with 3 never before heard tracks from the mid 00’s.

“Train Ride” is an energetic A1 with pacey drums and a marching topline, while the A2 “Ravebehave” delves deep into spring reverb mastery and wavering synths. The B1 “Melodic Ten” begins with rolling percussion and uplifts with the whispers of enchanting vocals. B2 comes as a remix of Melodic Ten by Fabric resident and stand out London artist Harry McCanna aka Henry Hyde! stripping it back even further and introducing his own sinister synths, growling bass and groove-led drum patterns. It's a pleasure to have Harry featured on the release.

MyCn 18 is a young planetary nebula in the southern constellation Musca. It was discovered by Romano Coradi and Hugo Schwarz in 1991. MyCn 18's hourglass shape is produced by the expansion of a fast stellar wind within a slowly expanding cloud which is denser near its equator than its poles. The central star of the nebula is unknown.

Credits-:

A massive thank you to John Spring & Harry McCanna for their Contributions. Distributed by Deejay.de. Mastering by Justin Drake. Design and Curation by Alix

"The past few years has seen an explosion in pop music, with new artists breaking with unforgettable songs and (re)establishing pop, with influences from different genres and places, at the top of the charts.
NOW Music are very proud to present NOW That’s What I Call Pop! – 38 massive pop anthems - including 8 UK #1s – and with all tracks featured on a stunning 3-LP vinyl pressed in a different colour for each disc: Bright Yellow, Hot Pink and Baby Blue, releasing 23rd May 2025."

Marking his first EP on Damian Lazarus’s revered Crosstown Rebels, OMRI. (pronounced “OMRI dot”) steps into the spotlight with ‘Nothing Wrong’—an infectious, immersive dive that traverses well beyond the dancefloor, laced with rhythm, tension, and soul. Dropping in June, the EP brings together a shimmering original, a hypnotic club-focused cut, and a peak-time remix from fast-rising US talent AYYBO.

Having already left his mark on the label with his remix of Jessica Brankka’s ‘Musk’, OMRI. now arrives with a statement of his own. The ‘Love Mix’ of ‘Nothing Wrong’ leads the release as a full-blown vocal anthem, layering captivating vocals over sweeping melodies and crisp percussion to create a powerful record destined for both club rooms and open-air settings. The ‘Club Mix’ takes a more experimental route—glitchy, stripped-back, and built for locked-in dancefloors and after-hours sessions.

AYYBO adds his own bold interpretation to the mix, injecting a darker, punchier energy that’s become synonymous with his releases on the likes of Experts Only, Insomniac, and HARD Recs. It’s a remix that captures the raw electricity of his sets while reimagining OMRI.’s original through a distinctly West Coast lens. An in-demand name, OMRI. has quickly carved a reputation for transcendental performances at some of the world’s most revered institutions. His sound, shaped across labels such as Hot Creations, Disco Halal, Haccabi House, and more recently through his own imprint Collecting Dots Records, blends deep psychedelia and hypnotic grooves with a forward-thinking approach, with past collaborations alongside Adam Ten, Moscoman, Yamagucci, and more. Set to feature regularly at Lazarus’ Hï Ibiza residency throughout the summer, expect standout sets that reflect his genre-blurring style and connection to the Crosstown Rebels sound as he serves up one of the label's most essential cuts of the year to open the summer in style.