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366 DAYS MUSIC, the brand run by Geneva-based artists Auguste Safar and Raphael Graham focused on promoting music events, is expanding its horizons and finally debuting as a record label. Aimed at showcasing house, techno, and minimal techno sounds, the label owners Auguste and Raphael are debuting with "Za Ria." On the remix duties? No other than veterans Dandy Jack and Ricardo Villalobos resurrecting their Ric Y Martin moniker.

The title track, 'Za-Ria' (A1), provides a glimpse into the young duo's talent and producer ethos: robust minimal grooves, rolling basslines, modular bleeps and bloops, ritualistic percussions and meticulous sampling — all the necessary ingredients for peak-time shenanigans. 'Depth's Drunkenness' (A2), on the other hand, follows a somewhat hypnotic path. Its rhythmic structure remains as tight and stomping as the previous track but expands on minimalism. Vocal whispers and synth stabs fill the space, keeping the frequency spectrum exciting and alive. On the flip side, Dandy Jack and Ricardo remix 'Za-Ria' (B1), throwing a 4-by-4 groover into a frenzy of sample mangling in micro/macro proportions. And while granular sampling and modular processing are usually unpredictable tools, here, everything is rhythm, like beautifully organized chaos.

Quickly establishing themselves as some of the most exciting young talents in the Swiss electronic music scene today, Auguste Safar and Raphael Graham, along with their 366 DAYS imprint, are ones to look out for.

DJ Support:

Craig Charles, Gilles Peterson, Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, Francois K, Luke Una and Downtown Disco.

The third in Greg Wilson’s 12 inch DJ series of GW Edits features two uptempo mid-‘70s disco cuts by the Mighty Clouds Of Joy and Vicki Sue Robinson, the latter a huge tune back then, the former very much slept on, but sounding every inch a classic. Reworked with Ché Wilson, following on from last year’s acclaimed remix of Gabriels ‘Love And Hate In A Different Time’, ‘Mighty Cloud’ and ‘The Turnaround’ guarantee full-on dancefloor satisfaction.

Through the medium of a distinctly synthesised, sustained ambience, seasoned artist and composer Jasmine Guffond arrives on OOH to explore the tension between technology and human creativity in an increasingly ambiguous playing field.

Alien Intelligence came into being during Guffond's residency at fabled Parisian institution GRM in 2021. While learning how to generate sound and make music with the in-house Serge modular synthesiser, the Australian artist noticed the typical role of human input for machine output was being subverted by the behaviour of certain electronic elements, which came to exercise their own influences on the direction of the music.

Taking this idea one step further, Guffond proceeded to explore the programming environment MaxMSP, a customisable interface which allowed her to blur the lines between human input and machine directives even further. Across the three extended pieces which make up Alien Intelligence you can hear the results of Guffond's inquisitive approach as she coaxed the machines into bringing their own ideas to bear on the music.

The tension inherent in this thematic duality is mirrored by the contrast between glacial ambience and chaotic interference across the album. On 'Serge & Maxine Variation One' the presiding mood is a slow and patient one, as undulating waveforms rich with harmonic overtones spill out over one another across 10 minutes. The track's latter passage, driven by steadily intensifying oscillations, is then interrupted with an unexpected flurry of pitch shifting. This kind of complex technical movement features more prominently at the start of 'Serge & Maxine Variation Three', which then gradually shifts into a gentler ebb and flow of rising and falling frequencies.

Angled slightly differently and residing on the B side of the album, 15-minute quiet epic 'Serge & Maxine Variation Two' bookends a louder passage of synth work with serene, sustained notes that ring out a sort of hymnal melody. Throughout, the movement in the music evolves in subtly modulating, hypnotic, ways, but there are also unexpected turns or melodic diversions which feel much more incongruous. In its closing stretch, the notes dart around more freely as though played by hand, but it's hard to be sure whether these shifts in the otherwise delicate tonal music were a human conceit or a programming by-product. In the end, the two inputs logically become one.

As Guffond says herself, "More-than-human logics emerge, a kind of alien intelligence that questions an assumed central position of human subjectivity in socio-technical assemblages and considers the philosophical, socio-political and cultural implications beyond music practice in an increasingly technologically mediated world."

As AI creeps into art as much as other aspects of modern life, Guffond applies her playful instinct to the theme of these works by re-considering machine intelligence as 'alien', crediting its contributions with a more robust yet enigmatic identity in the creative process, leading to an end result which is far from artificial.

►Mastered by Giuseppe Ielasi, cover art by Ilan Katin, layout by incepBOY, photo by Camille Blake, words by Oli Warwick

This is Ric aka DJ Robert Smith.

Okain returns to Talman Records with a four-track EP, offering a glimpse into his two-decade journey as a producer. Continuing his legacy of providing DJs with robust dance floor material, this EP stays true to form.

Opening the EP is "Wake Up," a tribute to early 2000s tech house, featuring crisp percussion, sharp stabs, and haunting vocals. Following is "Take Me Up," capturing the essence of UK garage with its thick Reese bassline and distinct vocal hooks.

Turning to the flip side, the EP ventures into darker realms with "Secret Science," blending dub-inspired synths with a weighty sub bass, perfect for late-night atmospheres. Closing the journey is "Swing Theory," a groove-driven track fusing minimal house elements into its infectious rhythm.

DJ Support: Danny Howard, Pete Tong, Sarah Story, Triple J, Groove Armada, Jamie Jones, Marco Carola,Nic Fanciulli, Sam Divine, Carlo Lio, Mat.Joe, Todd Terry, Jansons, Eskuche, Moon Boots, Format:B, Low Steppa, Robosonic, Dantiez Saunderson, Charlotte Van De Peer, Dario D’Attis, Shiba San, Dennis Cruz, Pirupa, DJ Rae, Danny Tenaglia, Rene Amesz, Juliet Fox, Ashibah, Boris, Carly Wilford, Booker T, Dateless, Melvin & Klein, Paco Osuna, DJ Lora

Nothing Else Matters is proud to bring an exciting new vinyl from HoneyLuv who makes her debut on Danny Howard’s imprint, teaming up with New York DJ, producer, singer-songwriter and vocalist Roland Clark for their brand-new single, ‘This Is My Life’. Crowned Radio 1’s Future Star of 2023, HoneyLuv has taken the Dance scene by storm in recent years with support from Seth Troxler, The Martinez Brothers, Nicole Moudaber, Kevin Saunderson, Maya Jane Coles, Loco Dice, Idris Elba and more, with releases signed to Black Book, Insomniac, Tuskegee, Three Six Zero and more. On the other hand, Roland has worked and co-produced music with many of the greats, including Fatboy Slim, Mark Knight, Todd Terry and Bob Sinclair, with his vocals considered the “voice of House” and one of the rare few that can bring you an electrifying DJ set while getting on the mic and giving you a performance unlike no other. Making for the perfect pairing, ‘This Is My Life’ is set to propel both artists to even greater heights and will surely be a firm favourite at clubs and festivals worldwide this year. Kicking off the B-side is a killer rework from the legendary Carl Cox who brings his A-game with this one infusing his signature grooving basslines and high-energy, hypnotic percussive grooves. Rounding off the package, Bontan’s rework delivers organic drums and captivating Afro-House rhythms catapulting the track to new audiences and new heights.

Toronto-based artist and co-boss of Parallel Minds, Ciel, known for her distinctive, precise, playful, and intricately crafted electronic productions, delivers a vibrant new EP on SUZI titled "Sada’s Dream". Originally performed during a live set at MUTEK Montreal, Ciel has refined these initial ideas into a five-track journey that showcases her unique sound palette, marked by meticulous attention to rhythmic and melodic interplay.

The EP opens with "Be That As It May," setting a contemplative tone with complex rhythms and a haunting flute-like melody that gradually unfolds into a brighter, expansive atmosphere.
Following this, the second track "Viral Load" shifts towards a tougher sound, featuring digital bleeps and arpeggiators that swirl around modern dubstep elements, creating a dense auditory texture.

The third piece, "Divide and Conquer," blends airy textures with a robust, infectious bassline and glitchy, compelling melodies, demonstrating Ciel's ability to balance delicacy with power.
Moving forward, "Bubble Gum Pop," the fourth track, adopts a clubbier vibe with its vigorous house vocals and lively breakbeat drums, offering a sharp contrast to the preceding tracks.

Concluding the EP is "Sada's Dream," the title track. This fast-paced, playful composition marries minimalist rhythms with whimsical bleeps and snippets of vocals, ending the EP on a note that feels both conclusive and invitingly open-ended. "Sada's Dream" is a sonic tapestry that weaves together the subtle complexities of Ciel's signature style with a narrative that is both intimate and expansive, capturing the essence of her artistic vision.

The first Release from the Manchester based label Beatnik Collective. A four tracker from Various Artists , Alex Arnout, Robert James, Henry Hyde & Residents Adam & Rossa.

Swedens #1 techno legend The Source Experience aka Robert Leiner delivers this disturbingly fat acid techno 12'' on Borft that gets into your ears and brain like a locomotive straight from the rave days. On the A-side a crushing stripped down funky repetitive acid stonker that will spank old and young ravers like they were one big ass. B1 continues in a similar fashion but with a almost electro-ish backbeat instead of straight 4/4 and strong hints of classic EBM in the bassline and percussions. The hairs on my arms were standing up at this point. B2 is a weird surprise ending with a downtempo, strangely harmonic, melodic and almost romantic track which somehow reminds me of the Frak classic ''Uttoz gives a song''. If you are into Acid in any form this 12'' is a no brainer, a must have, a future classic. And make sure you have doubles so you can mix together A and B1 and extend them into eternity. 2024-01-18 Joakim Cosmo

Rosati launches his new imprint, Global Pulse. The label embraces a futuristic development of Techno, exploring unknown sonic territories while always staying true to its original essence.

The inaugural release, 'Automatic Response EP', features five original tracks that are pulsating with powerful dynamics and detailed textures.

In the first track, A1 'Automatic Response', the vibe is established by a steady bass line and hypnotic bleep sequences that are ensuring high pressure energy.

Continuing with A2 'Way Out', where a wide landscape is created through the use of well crafted sound design elements, juxtaposed to a minimalistic 909 groove.

With B1 'Ufo Memory', Rosati is diving into alien realms, blending atmospheric UFO textures with heavily saturated drum patterns, creating a dark, pumping, and futuristic mood.

In B2 'Feeling', the focus shifts to the late 90s era, where a story of freedom is told through the appearance of percussive loops, funky bass lines and pad melodies.

Inside the record there is also a digital bonus 'Time Tunnel': a melodic electro journey that transports the listener into a robo-dystopic, yet hopeful, future.

With this first release, Global Pulse lays the ground for a promising series that will push the envelopes of Techno, promising a platform focused on sustainability and authenticity of Electronic Music.

Commissioned and curated by Flora Yin Wong for her label and publishing house Doyenne, ‘Venus Rising From The Sea’ is a collection of love-themed cover versions featuring Teresa Winter, Susu Laroche, Alex Zhang Hungtai, aya, Maria Minerva, Christina Vantzou, Spivak, Salamanda, clare rousay, Wild Terrier Orchestra, Dania and Flora Yin Wong herself covering songs by The Cure, Robert Wyatt, Mariah Carey, The Cranberries, Pentangle, The Carter Family, Spiritualized, Debussy and more.

‘Venus Rising From The Sea’ takes its cues from the classical deity Aphrodite - whose name literally means “sea foam” - for an ever necessary expression of love in the modern age. The label asked friends and collaborators to interpret “love” in whichever way they saw fit, be it obsession, self-love, unrequited, unconditional, whatever. But despite the open brief, and the vastly different modes of execution, all the artists involved somehow ended up linking hands with a shared determination to smudge the original songs into bleary-eyed, uncanny traces of the originals.

To open, Pentangle's jaunty 'No Love is Sorrow' is puffed into stormy clouds by Teresa Winter, who retains the original’s unmistakable bass twang and teases Jacqui McShee's siren song into a saturated buzz of layered, obfuscated words. Verses twist into verses, lines into echoed-out lines, capturing the song’s boundless yearning, rather than tracing its exact contours. Next, Susu Laroche yields one of the set’s highlights on a brilliantly nuanced, highly impactful version of Nina Simone’s take on folk standard ‘Black is the Colour of My True Love’s Hair’, turning the original’s multi-faceted Appalachian/Scottish routes into a heart-stopping, Nico-esque fuzz we haven’t stopped playing for weeks. Christina Vantzou (the CV ov CV & JAB) is joined by pianist Ezra Fieremans in the absorbingly filmic scenes of ‘Hot Springs’, while Maria Spivak's interpretation of Robert Wyatt's 'Just as You Are' finds her singing Brazilian vocalist Mônica Vasconcelos' words with reverence, smearing them into a hypnagogic fantasy.

Flora Yin Wong takes an inconspicuous approach on her love-letter to Mariah Carey's 'The Roof (Back in Time)', itself a melodramatic interpolation of Mobb Deep's Herbie Hancock-sampling 'Shook Ones, Part II'. The unmistakable piano line is frayed into a granulated gurgle, fleshed out by gauzy cries; Mariah's ecstatic diva logic haunts the edges like a furtive glance, hanging beautifully behind Wong's dense soundscapes. Alex Zhang Hungtai's take on the 1927 standard 'Me and My Shadow' is even more atomised, reduced to a disembodied vocal that oozes around a clattering woodblock.

Always a standout, aya's tribute to The Cure's 'Lovesong' infuses the 1989 classic with the same self-investigatory charm she exhibited on 'im hole', slowing it down to a giddy, infatuated lurch, and replacing the guitars with eerily-tuned oscillations and drums with hollowed-out, electrically charged thuds. "I will always love you," she moans through a wall of static, like some lost “Pop Artificielle” addendum. The album’s biggest surprise is saved for last, however, a cover of The Cranberries' 'No Need To Argue' from Paralaxe Editions boss Dania Shihab. Already a poignant memory of a faded romance, Dania's version is even more glacial, her tender voice gusting over inverted guitars and looping, wordless moans, guiding us ever so gracefully into the nether-world.

‘Venus Rising From The Sea’ is a gooey, emotionally raw set of recollections and affirmations from some of the scene's most open-hearted operatives. In the end, the love that's most evident is the love each of the artists has for their source material, somehow binding loose threads into a rich tapestry that will leave you gasping, perhaps a little tearful too.

Repress

I lean upon this,
I lean on all of this
and I know
her dress upon my arm
but
they will not
give her back to me.
Early support: Truss, Tommy Four Seven, Truncate, Marcel Dettmann, Psyk, AnD, Pfirter, Eomac, Perc, Rebekah, Svreca, Paula Temple, Dax J, Joseph Capriati, Joachim Spieth, Henning Baer, Lag, Takaaki Itoh, Go Hiyama, D. Carbone, Par Grindvik, Max M, Wire, Paul Mac, Kriz, Octave, Drvg Cvltvre, Dimi Angelis, Joe Farr, Ryuji Takeuchi, Slam, Rivet, Gary Beck, Nuno dos Santos, Manni Dee, Luis Ruiz, Mark Morris, Mattias Woot, Mike Darkfloor, Erphun, Radial, Exium, P.E.A.R.L., Mr. Jones, Joseph Mcgeechan, Joton, UVB, Juho Kusti, Aiken, Operator, Jeff Rushin, Martyn Hare, Inigo Kennedy, Sebastian Kokow, Roberto, Shards, L.A.W, Ricardo Garduno, Space DJz, Operator, Blank Code, Patrick DSP...

Long-time contributor to Drumcode, Christian Smith lands on Truesoul for the first time in his career.

The Tronic boss and all round techno stalwart shows us the groovier and more melodic side of his music personality with a pair of quality cuts. Co-produced by John Selway, ‘Here To Stay’ is a slick slice of robot fun, underlined by an elegant melodic underbelly, rugged electro riffs and an intergalactic vocal. Its accompaniment ‘Our Destiny’, is a searing chord led production ideal for warm-ups or silky morning sets.

Love Love host a collaborative release by two of the freshest contemporary Avon producers, Best Pest and Kursa. Kursa (also one half of S.Murk) has built a notable following in the UK as well as in the USA, playing out often at big stateside events with his own style of tight, maximalist bass music - think Tipper, Eprom, Noisia etc… Ben Pest is no stranger to Love Love with 2 previous solo releases under his belt, best known for his crunchy techno & electro and ripping hardware live-sets. Here they come together for a 5 track genre-hopping EP, each flexing their respective production sensibilities, splicing elements of dubstep, grime, hardcore & garage together, along with a healthy dose of multi-dimensional sound design, to make some of the noisiest modern dance music going.

Early support from: Clouds, Giant Swan, Rob Hall, A Made Up Sound, Om Unit, Nikki Nair, Luke Sanger, Deft, Warlock, Second Storey...

Anthea invites the up and coming Argentinian producer C.ru.z whos live jam arrangements and direct rave energy being felt from begining to end with the “Secuencias Del Tiempo Perdido” EP being constructed upon twisted beeps and bleeps, and distinct energetic atmosphere's for the peak hours of the night.

For our 24th release C.ru.z has delievered four huge robunctious and original after party anthems, bringing some new flava for your ears and your mind.

James Curd’s Pronto label returns on vinyl once again with four heavy weight remixes by some of the best producers in the game. Do not miss!

Regularly described as one of the hidden jewels in the industry Tommy Vicari Jnr has been releasing music since 2001. Since then he has been consistently championed by the worlds top DJ's with his tracks regularly featuring in sets from the likes of Ricardo Villalobos, Zip and a:rpia:r soundsystem. His blinding releases over the years on labels back catalogues such as 320KB, AMMO84, Robsoul Recordings, Slapfunk, Politics of Dancing, BienAimer, Discours and Counterculture Records are so highly regarded that they're consistently classed as gold dust to DJ's and vinyl collectors alike. And now the enigmatic producer joins the Johnny Johnny Records roster with JJW004. Our 4th vinyl exclusive release Tommy has conjured up 3 raw original cuts that are packed with Vicari's signature quirky and against the grain sound. Rounding off the record we have our very own founder Modat returning to this particular ethylene & chlorine combo with his own take of a1. Expect raw eclectic house music from start to finnish.

Sleep Now Forever is the second and final album released by Sorrow, the post-Strawberry Switchblade group fronted by singer Rose McDowall. Originally released in 1999 and long since deleted it is a cornucopia of pastoral, elegiac folk music, swirling atmospherics, hymnal compositions and above it all the alternating towering and fragile vocal performances of McDowall. Recorded in the late 90s with fellow band member and co-songwriter Robert Lee, Sleep Now Forever is the definitive statement by the now defunct group and Rose McDowall’s most complete long-form work to date.
Released through the group’s own Piski Disk Records, Sleep Now Forever was distributed by World Serpent which struggled through the early 2000s with financial woes, eventually folding due to bankruptcy in 2004. Due to the company’s troubles, Sleep Now Forever was never distributed widely and was a victim of the company’s failure. Released on CD only, original copies are now rare and only traded on second hand channels. Remastered by Mikey Young for a limited vinyl release, Sleep Now Forever will be released on April 20th on double vinyl format, with one side an exclusive etching by Glasgow artist Holly Allan.
Despite its rarity, Sleep Now Forever enjoys a firm cult following. The album’s textures are expansive, lush, deliciously detailed and celestial. Recorded in home study Velvet Hole by Rose McDowall and then-husband Robert Lee, the album enlists an array of players from the underground Neo-folk / industrial scene: Nigel McKernaghan (Uilleann pipes, Whistles), Susan Franknel (Bassoon), John Contreras (Cello) and Lawrence Frankel (Oboe, Cor Anglais). The eleven songs here revolve around McDowall’s instantly recognisable voice. Brought up singing in the Catholic Church, McDowall’s vocals are impeccable and angelic, particularly on tracks like Turn Off The Light where her experiences with religion are canted over soaring oboe and guitar backing. By far the most evolved and realised version of Sorrow’s vision, it feels somewhat criminal that music this beautiful could be lost to time until now.
McDowall’s lyrics throughout Sleep Now Forever deal frankly with mental health, depression, altered states, death and redemption. Wave upon wave of harmony drench each song, McDowal’s vocal multi-tracked and imperious. Opener Soldier benefits from Robert Lee’s use of the studio as instrument, summoning forth a lilting group performance of sparkling guitar and percussion that recalls the Velvet Underground. Mikey Love’s master treats the compositions to brand new frequency dynamics and space. Harmonium and string drones form the counter to McDowall’s vocal on Love Dies, a slow, lurching lament that feels transcendent. On Haunting, the arrangement is orchestral and aching, bleeding into Fear Becomes You, with chord and harmony structure that recalls the baroque sixties pop of West Coast Pop Experimental Art Band or the 60s psychedelic folk movement. A towering, beautiful statement, this elegy for times lost and moonlit-illumination is finally resurfacing from the darkness.

One day early in the global lockdown, Frédéric Blais scribbled four words on a Post-It note and pinned it up in his studio. When he headed to a studio in the mountains north of Montreal to start work on his fifth album as Fred Everything, those words went with him. They would not only provide inspiration during two weeks of isolated music-making, but ultimately provide the subsequent album with its title: Love, Care, Kindness and Hope.

Those sentiments – a positive mantra during a period of personal and collective vulnerability and isolation – resonate throughout the album, a gorgeously warm and beautiful affair that counts as Blais’s most personal, musically expansive, mature and sonically detailed set to date.

While each of the tracks began as a rough sketch laid down during Blais’ retreat, they evolved considerably over the months that followed. Blais reached out to a handful of carefully selected guest vocalists and collaborators, including Stereo MC’s, Robert Owens, Sapele, James Alexander Bright, Wayne Tennant, string arranger Pete Whitfield and multi-instrumentalist Finn Peters. He also lent his voice to several tracks, a first in a career that stretches back to the 1990s.

The results are magical, with Blais not only offering subtle variations on his own trademark deep house sound, but also nods to complimentary music styles and classic electronic albums from the late ‘90s and early 2000s.

Naturally, much focus will fall on the album’s high-profile guests, whose contributions work perfectly with Blais’ cultured dancefloor electronica and soul-soaked broken house grooves. Robert Owens – “the voice of house” himself – expertly delivers lyrics full of compassion and reassurance on recent single ‘Never’, Sapele infuses ‘A Long Time Coming’ with lashings of soulful spirituality, and UK hip-hop/soul legends Stereo MC’s make their presence felt on the subtly Latin-infused dub house excellence of ‘Soul Love’.

Then there’s ‘Breathe’, where UK singer-songwriter James Alexander Bright and backing vocalist Wayne Tennant rise above punchy broken house beats, Blais’ trademark square-wave bass and Pete Whitfield’s swelling strings on ‘Breathe’. By the time kaleidoscopic, sun-down breakbeat brilliance of ‘A Good Day’ arrives to draw proceedings to a close, you’ll be overflowing with Blais’ “love, care, kindness and hope” – just as he intended.

Northern California psychedelic sorcerers Carlton Melton are brain surfers, mind trippers, … “psychlists,” if you prefer. The band will take your head for a ride, occasionally rushing at superluminal speeds through a wormhole or gliding softly on a gentle breeze in a leafy glade. Sometimes your brain needs to rage, and sometimes it needs to repose. For a decade and a half, the band has yo-yo’ed, almost schizophrenically, between these two modes: walloping space jams with furious guitar solos in one hemisphere of the brain and ethereal, feather-light splashdowns in the other. Not to mention a track here and there that builds from the latter into the former. But with two new releases in 2023, the band has evolved. Whether psych rock or ambient trance, their sound remains driving, organic, and flowing. With the addition of Anthony Taibi (White Manna, DDT), however, the group’s metal freak-outs are Hawkwindier and their droning kraut trances are Spacemen 3-er. In January, the quartet released the playfully spacey Resemble Ensemble, recorded in Taibi’s home studio 3D Light. October now sees the band Turn To Earth, a work with scents of Autumn, a season of death and transition. The cover art evokes a vine-covered, electric crucifix. The sound is, well, earthy but also gritty and striving towards change. The album was recorded in Fall 2022 and now harvested in Fall 2023. Phil Becker (Terry Gross, Pins Of Light) contributed drums and percussion to a few tracks on Turn To Earth, recording the album at El Studio in San Francisco.

With Becker at the helm, the synths have become more prominent (“Cosmicity,” “Roboflow,” “Migration”) and the tone heavier on the doom (“Cloudstorming,” “Unlock The Land,” title track): several moments could even serve as background music for epic dark fantasy films like Conan the Barbarian, Fire and Ice, or Heavy Metal. As exquisite as Turn To Earth is, Melton are best appreciated as a live act: their recordings as well as their gigs are largely improvised – not so much composed as birthed. And yet their most recent tour ended abruptly and perilously. The group had to cancel its final three shows once members were admitted to Arnhem hospital in the Netherlands. Five years later, reinforcements have strengthened the band and restocked its arsenal of great tracks. After the rockus interruptus of that 2018 tour and the tantric tease of the intervening Covid lockdown, Melton have some unfinished business. An October 2023 tour is poised to set the freshly minted quartet back onto the stages of Europe and within the cerebral folds of its fans. Turn To Earth, sure … but keep your head in outer space. Carlton Melton is: andy duvall – drums/gtr; clint golden – bass; rich millman – gtr/synth; and anthony taibi – synth/gtr.

2023 sees the return of multi-talented Norwegian producer Espen Horne to Wah Wah 45s, after a 24 year hiatus. The man behind the label's very first release, the now seminal Magnetica, never lost his connection with the imprint and has remained very much part of the Wah Wah family, making a comeback this year with his first solo material under his own name since that club classic from 1999.

Back in the spring, the first single from the project, the gorgeous soul-jazz beauty Bakeren, featuring the stunning vocals of Resonators' Faye Houston, quickly found a home on Gilles Peterson's internationally renowned BBC Radio 6 show as well as that of Jazz FM legend Robbie Vincent, Bandcamp Weekly and the Fresh Finds Jazz Spotify playlist.

Following that, Bergen Sunrays, became a weekly fixture on the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show on BBC 6 Music, with the limited 7-inch of both singles selling out within hours of release.

Next up was the wistful Den Franske Gitaren, a lugubrious soul-jazz piece with drum & bass leanings featuring Bergen based MC and vocalist Aich, which found favour with legends Laurent Garnier and Jazzanova as well as hot Japanese production outfit Dazzle Drums.

This was closely followed by the final single to be taken from the album, the stunning and outspoken vocal jazz waltzer Nada Pode Me Calar (which roughly translates to Nothing Can Shut Me Up!) featuring the sublime talent of Olav Wöllo on vocals and Juno - anotherr big one with Gilles Peterson on Worldwide FM and Deb Grant on BBC 6 Music.

And now the full album, entitled The Anatomy Of Serene Eloquence is available for your aural delectation. Recorded largely during lockdown, the LP is a sophisticated and composed piece of work that sees the Norwegian producer make connections with musicians from across Europe, and some closer to home, to collaborate on this sedate and peaceful collection of songs.

The aforementioned Faye Houston also appears on the soulful, dub flavoured Don't Fall Asleep, a piece of music that explores the feeling of being isolated whilst sharing a mutual love and drive to explore new sonic possibilities.

Elsewhere, Olav Wöllo pops up again too, this time on O Mar E A Lua and once again singing in Portuguese to give this track a certain Tropicalia feel, as Espen explains:

"Olav Wöllo is a close friend, an excellent musician and vocalist, and a capoeira professor here in Bergen. He has spent much of his life living in Brazil and speaks Portuguese fluently. He wrote the lyrics for this tune years ago and had just been waiting for the right collaboration to come along.

We went to his lovely studio out on this remote island, made a massive gyoza meal, had some serious good wine and stayed the whole night to record his vocal harmonies and outspoken lyrics."

The single Bergen Sunrays also appears on the album in instrumental form with featured keys courtesy of London based player Rory More - here entitled Rory's Sunrays. His Lowrey organ adds a more melancholic feel to the track, as it does on the stunning Belle Époque, alongside the ivory work of Eirik Blåsternes - an emotional, contemplative and atmospheric track that was tested and shaped in the eclipse of Covid.

As with Belle Époque, La Psychosomnie is a playful yet explorative cut that examines insomnia, paralysis and hypnosis courtesy of some enigmatic French spoken word spinning around a framework of drums, bass and swirling keys.

And finally, the album offers up an alternative version of the single Den Franske Gitaren, this time featuring Martin Halla, a vocalist out of the Bergen Grieg Jazz Academy and winner of the Norwegian version of The Voice back in 2012! The perfect flip to Aich's more mournful interpretation of this bass and drum future classic.

WOLFDRIFTA returns to his own Wolves That Drift imprint for its sophomore release via the ‘Control The Code’ EP, complete with remix from Phone Traxx’s Rob Amboule.

The EP kicks off with the titular ‘Control The Code’. A versatile track which seamlessly fuses elements of early Detroit electro and techno with a classic Chicago-esque groove packaged with modern dynamics and functionality. GOSU affiliate and Phone Traxx member Rob Amboule steps up to remix the aforementioned ‘Control The Code’, adding his trademark breakbeat and minimal stylings to proceedings. Closing out an impressive second outing for the burgeoning imprint is the haunting, hardware driven ’Twilight Zone’ to complete the hat trick.

The package, posted from Inglewood in California, dropped through my letter box…
I was looking forward to seeing this, the VHS of the then relatively ‘unknown’ but now legendary live show at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. But when I fed it into my VHS player, I was disappointed. I could not quite figure out why. The band were tight, each musician sounded great, the product of being on the road, year after year, club after club in the States, sometimes playing five shows a night, all propped up by one of the best soulful voices we had ever heard, the maestro Frankie Beverly.
It took a second play of the VHS to realise what was missing. It was ‘too comfortable’ an atmosphere. A few wealthy customers sat around coffee tables quaffing champagne. It seemed to me that this audience, somehow, did not fit the band.
Paul Fenn at Asgard promotions received the contract from the band to appear live in London and Manchester. I became more and more convinced that his UK fans were going to be a lot more responsive than those from New Orleans.
We put the word out with just a couple of exclusive ‘shout outs’ by Robbie Vincent on his Radio London Soul programme. Those two plugs were enough to sell out all four shows at London’s premier music venue, the Hammersmith Odeon. The ticket office was rammed and the queue six deep, stretched halfway down Queen Caroline Street.
“I have never seen anything like it” expressed the manager of the theatre as he rolled down the shutters and turned on the “Sorry, SOLD OUT” notice above the theatre box office.
I was curious, so I went up and stood in the wings of the Hammersmith stage on that first show. Frankie, introduced to the stage by his sound engineer, Greg Blockman, sauntered past me, strumming his rhythm guitar, dressed in a casual dark green towelling suit, a brown leather visor and flip flops…and then five seconds later, he suddenly stopped. He seemed suddenly to be aware of the thunderous ’Welcome to London Maze’ roar, circling around the theatre about to engulf him. He slapped every black and white hand offered up to him that night, with a huge smile as he circled the edge of that stage. We wanted to get next to him, even if it meant climbing over rows of seats in front of us to do so.
That was the beginning of our love affair with Maze and Frankie Beverly. It certainly wasn’t New Orleans comfort; it was more like a crazy, but friendly, London riot.
Five albums on from the “Live in New Orleans” LP, Frankie sauntered into the California recording studio, probably with the same swagger as in London, to cut the delightful A-side here, “Somebody Else’s Arms”, from his aptly named ‘Silky Soul’ album. Along with the B-side, ‘Love is’ (from the “Back To Basics” CD, 1993) both are so delicious you might want to relax and pour yourself that London glass of champagne, 1983 vintage. Tell your mates your Maze/Hammersmith story too. You deserve it.

Next up on Nuremberg label Kias is an accomplished and subtle recording from Tripeo who follows up releases on Ben Sims label and Clone with his Robber Barons EP.

microCastle’s first offering of 2024 welcomes Adrian Roman back to the label for his second artist showcase. Hailing from Spain, Adrian Roman first rose to prominence in 2021 with a string of superlative releases which redefined his sound, resulting in an aesthetic that was both cutting edge and effortlessly cool. F, nmully formed within the creative confines of his Castello studio, Adrian’s first microCastle project, 2022’s‘ Disturbing the Perception’ succeeded in showcasing his inventive approach to composition, while remaining club-effective, and in turn earning play from Aera, Fideles and Jimi Jules, amongst others. Moving forward the next eighteen months have proved to be impactful for the young Spaniard, recording standout projects for AZZUR and Sum Over Histories, releases which continued to build on his creative acumen, while remaining in the playlists of underground tastemakers Ame and Dixon. With 2024 beginning with Adrian’s latest Sum Over Histories vehicle ‘Oratorical Ability’, the Spaniard now makes a welcome return to microCastle with a six-track showcase entitled ‘This Is What I Was For A Moment’.

From the opening monochromes of ‘Le Sabbat’ Adrian’s craftsmanship reveals itself across this slow-burning piece, one where grating growls, granular flares and panoramic arps ultimately set the pace for the groove-centric ‘Customized Reality’. It’s here where Adrian puts a greater focus on the dancefloor, marrying hopeful vocal phrasing and silky chord stabs for a rejuvenating experience, while a drum-driven drop ultimately charts the course for a finale of deconstructed sonics and post-rave bliss. The haywire electricity of ‘Faces of Belmez’ finds the Spaniard once again flexing his creative muscles, as corrugated bleeps and cataclysmic rhythms provide a vast sense of space, creating the ultimate backdrop for distorted synths to propel choppy rhythms into dark underground passages, and perhaps onto some of the world’s most adventurous dancefloors.

The collection’s midway point is marked by the hypno-architecture of ‘Mind Design’. Trickling reverberations and long sighs of tonal tension wade through its pulsating framework, with frayed effects and thumping rhythms submerged beneath a buzzing panoramic glow. Played by Ame and sitting as one of the project's most enigmatic tracks is ‘TAGDI’ (They Are Gonna Do It). Tinted with contemplative synths and guttural vocals, Adrian’s unique emotionality peaks here, as he crafts a low-slung, slow-building dystopian romance, all while weaving in cerebral manipulations for an unforgettable ride. The mist breaks instantly on the collection’s final piece, as your thrusted into the muscular grooves of ‘Fear Track’. Horrifying vocal stabs strike, leaving the gauzy purple skies of ‘TAGDI’ behind for a more robust romp, one where anabolic bassline, retro-arps and off kilter percussion bring the release to a feverish peak. A fitting conclusion to a diverse collection of music, one where Adrian creates a journey that speaks to the complexities of life against an immersive and challenging backdrop.

Artwork: Maurcio Seidel