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The next release from 29 Speedway is Break, the new EP from NY’s Relaxer, the long running alias of Daniel Martin-McCormick (Black Eyes, Ital and co-founder of Dripping), and it signals a decisive shift in his music. The tape features two remixes by the singular DJ Marcelle.

What happens when dubby drum & bass meets Dischord’s post-punk colossus Black Eyes? “Break” is the new EP from NY’s Relaxer, the long running alias of Daniel Martin-McCormick (Black Eyes, Ital and co-founder of Dripping), and it signals a decisive shift in his music.

Prompted by friends to write a drum & bass live set just as Black Eyes was reuniting, the results didn’t quite fit the d&b genre. But it felt right. Quick, nimble, with room for the ferocity of his favorite post punk and some of the spaciousness of dub. Evergreen vibes, really, but seen from a fresh perspective.

Honed over a period of two years, the five tracks on “Break” fuse Relaxer’s careening, technoid sounds with free jazz-tinted drum programming, snarling sound design and spacious echo trails. It’s a perfect fit for 29 Speedway’s future-facing, exploratory anti-genre approach to electronics. The tape features two remixes by the singular DJ Marcelle and mastering by Dubplates & Mastering.

The original track came back in February and proved an immediate hit. Next to the original, versions from the likes of DJ Spen & Gary Hudgins also helped make this a breakout tune in the first quarter of 2021. Now comes the turn of Kenny Dope, one half of Masters at Work, the most seminal house duo of all time. Kenny Dope is an obsessive record collector, studio wizard and all-round musical encyclopedia whose influence on the scene cannot be overstated. He has been involved with numerous projects, from The Bucketheads to running his Dopewax label and never fails to impress.

This new remix from the Brooklynite is a glorious one baked in the sun's warming rays. It's built on a loose, Latin-tinged beat with big chords, expressive xylophone stylings and plenty of irresistible syncopation. The buttery smooth vocals bring the soul up top and help make this a timeless tune that will unite all dance floors. An instrumental mix is also included that strips things back, shows off the track's effortless musicianship, and draws out the beats for extra dance floor impact.

These two vital versions are the sort of life-affirming, and feel-good house sounds the world is desperate to hear right now.

Cape Verdean singer Mayra Andrade's multi-layered music embraces a blend of radiant, dancing colors, velvet beats and spicy melodies. Her voice is subtly seasoned with pepper, as if the Europe of pop had always been atropical archipelago. Andrade is arguably the front-runner of the many talents that have emerged from Cape Verde over the years.

Her vividly-hued music which is full of energy and a warm, adventurous upredictability is sung in Cape Verdean creole, English and Portuguese. Mayra’s pop spans the world’s entire vast sweep from Western romanticism, Southern sensuality, domestic reggae and African. It is topical, tropical, traveling pop that, in the words of Mayra, is “music that reflected my life”.

On this live album recorded at Union Chapel Mayra Andrade presents her new guitar and vocal collaboration ‘reEncanto’. The Cape Verdean singer performs her repertoire alongside musician Djodje Almeida, inviting us to discover the source and the essence of her songs which she was the author all along her discography – since Navega (2006), to Manga (2019).

Mayra Andrade se revisite en duo voix et guitare dans une ambiance intimiste appelée reEncanto. La chanteuse capverdienne accompagnée uniquement de son collègue musicien Djodje Almeida, nous invite à redécouvrir l’origine et l’essence de certaines de ses chansons dont elle a été l’auteur et compositrice tout au long de sa discographie – de ‘Navega’ (2006), à ‘Manga’ (2019). Cet album a été enregistré live en novembre 2023 à Union Chapel à Londres durant la tournée du même nom.

'Erotic Probiotic 2' is Nourished By Time’s debut album on Scenic Route, following up from last year’s two track EP, Erotic Probiotic, which had support from Jamz Supernova on BBC 1Xtra and NTS shows; Yaeji, Shy One, Macca, Anu, and more. 2023 has already been a busy year for the singer/songwriter/producer, supporting 4AD’s sardonic post-punk band, Dry Cleaning on their 20 stop tour of North America. As well as remixing their playful album track, Gary Ashby, dropping on March 1st. Nourished By Time also collaborates with progressive electronic artist Yaeji on her debut album, With A Hammer, out on April 7th on XL Recordings.

Erotic Probiotic 2 showcases the range of this rising Baltimore pop star, telling his transformative story through impeccable songwriting, infectious ear worm melodies, vivid storytelling and intimate DIY production. The album traveresses a broad spectrum of sound, allowing his songwriting to dictate the ever changing mood he orchestrates; whether it is love or loss. Sitting somewhere between indie, pop, alternative RnB, ultimately carving out a fresh sound defined by his vulnerable vocals, raw guitar licks and undeniable groove. Quantum Suicide is the lead single with a bitter sweet sentiment brought to life through fuzzy shoegaze guitar riffs, glimmering synths and beautiful melancholy vocals, leaving you with a dizzying sense of possibilities.

The album was recorded mostly in 2021 - 22 in his parents basement in Baltimore. “At this time, I was in a beautiful and formative relationship that was running its course. Songs like ‘Unbreak My Love’ and ‘Rain Water Promise’ come from that place of dealing with the end. A story of lovers parting and making sense of the battling feelings of resentment and longing. As well as the existential aspect of having to end of a relationship. All while with dealing long-time depression, songs like lead single “Quantum Suicide” and “Shed That Fear” exhibit the importance of choosing to live and that getting out of pits of despair requires tremendous amounts of effort and intention and is a very difficult lifelong task. Whilst other tracks such as ‘The Fields’ and ‘Daddy’ and ‘Workers Interlude’ are attempts at trying to aim my anger at productive targets like Capitalism which both songs are a critique of.”

Fresh from beasting the end-of-year charts with her 'I Miss Your Love' remix project, Ghost Assembly, aka Manchester DJ and writer Abigail Ward, is back with a double A-side: RESIST! / I Keep on Making the Same Mistake.

RESIST! (Extended 12" Mix)
Laid down quickly and angrily after attending a demo in Manchester city centre, RESIST! aims to capture the galvanising spirit of protest and put it on wax.
A 111bpm acid chugger that will leave dancefloors of an ALFOS or Optimo persuasion begging for more, this is uncompromising machine funk at its crudest.
Duelling 303s twist around each other whilst a taut, snaking 707 groove underpins unexpected blasts of Arabic rhythm, almost as if DJ Pierre had remixed 'Get UR Freak On', relocating it to the Middle East.
As a stuttering Harper Hay vocal sample urges us to RESIST!, the track climaxes with an ice-cold acid house string coda banged out on a disobedient synth. Please note: the sub on this record may trouble your duodenum.

RESIST! (Utter Kunt Mix)
The Utter Kunt mix is a sparse and daring Sleng Teng-inspired avant-dub affair strictly for discerning dancefloors only. Improbably combining hints of the Mission Impossible theme, Les Negresses Vertes' 'Zobi La Mouche' and the rough-hewn sampling of 'Duck Rock', this is a radiant obstacle in the path of the obvious. Warning: collectors of On-U, EBM and New Beat could experience a spate of nocturnal emissions upon purchasing this record.

The A-side closes with a BONUS BEATS version of the Utter Kunt Mix: a must-have DJ tool.

I KEEP ON MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE
Picking up the pace to 120, 'I Keep on Making the Same Mistake' sees Ghost Assembly returning to her string-drenched sad banger comfort zone, pairing a chilly breakbeat with a bass riff reminiscent of Joey Beltram having a gut-wrenching cry wank. Keening vocals supplied by Hazel Grove are chopped up, tormented and eventually hurled down a K-hole as the strings build and the drama escalates.
When the credits roll on this cinematic masterpiece we hear a wistful French lesbian talking about 'borrowed bliss'.

A future comedown classic; also sounds good slowed down to 33rpm.

The E.P. signs off with a stunning string-a-pella that will linger long after the needle hits the run-out groove.

"In a reality where the sun is neon and the streets are lit with lasers...where the message of love is communicated through soaring synths and haunting vocals, you'll find the music of Causeway"

American synth-wave project, Causeway, is the brainchild of Marshall Watson and Allison Rae.
Through sophisticated downbeat melodrama, lyrical motifs of isolation, and an ultra-vivid wall of sound, the two bring a sizzling synth-laden take on the dream wave genre.

Coming to the fore with support from Italians Do It Better, Causeway released their first full length album 'We Were Never Lost' to immediate acclaim, soon landing spots in tv shows Never Have I Ever, and Riverdale.

Fast forward to the here & now and they've returned with an updated sound and a new label relationship with Manchester's Sprechen, on which their new album 'Anywhere' is welcomed to the fold.

The enigmatic duo has brought forth a reverb drenched cosmic journey across 10 tracks. Where narratives of dark & light are conveyed via emotional synthesizer soundscapes alongside captive melodies and ethereal vocals to take you on a diverse and cinematic listening experience.

Hints of post punk, new wave and 80's noir run throughout the album where influences such as The Cure, Cocteau Twins, OMD and New Order are embraced by Causeway's own unique sonic stylings of electronic music neatly wrapped around each track.

2026 Repress
Oscar Mulero keeps busy in his studio facilities as usual. His musical output keeps growing and always wandering into new directions and flavors while preserving his artistic integrity. For this Ep on his very own Pole Group imprint he showcases his combative side after some excursions into more profound and intricate territories.

Poisonality EP is about the wise use of distortion on techno, is about non conforming with the seasonal standards, about investigating new rhythms, new types of arrangements and new boundaries in sound design, always remembering the roots.

Aroma de Falso Amor is the first exercise, exploring the abrasive power of broken distorted beats, overdriven drones and textures and hyper dynamic song structures. The result is a non conventional techno workout, essential to give spice to any set.

Poisonality gives name to the EP and works with asymmetry combined with the right dose of crispiness, creating a super shuffled hi tech jam. Chaotic, hypnotic and mental.

Iris Malicioso opens the B side with an eye on the funkier Detroit tradition combined with the power of the best British influences from the nineties. Here drums and stabs are the main ingredients, interleaving, mutating and constantly evolving. Hi tech funk in its purest expression.

Dos Pequeños Zorros closes the tracklist, again focusing on the dancefloor and keeping the ingredients minimal, continuous and obsessive with a rugged, constantly twisted sequence running over a precise groove, keeping things busy through all the structure

This new TopicDrift45 release comes straight outta Aachen. Originally released in 1982 on Rainer Wiedensohlers "Nabel Musik" Imprint with a whole LP called "Floating" and for the first time on a DJ friendly 45 cut. Side A "Running" was and still is a well known mover in the UK Northen & Asian Scene. While holding down the laidback mellow jazzy vibes with "Till We Get There" on the B Side. A true example for all those DJs out there collecting & spinning organic music in all its forms. Get it! :-)

"Wien - die Stadt mit dem wahrscheinlich schönsten Namen. Allein der Klang ist schon Musik." (Andreas Dorau) Grund genug, der österreichischen Hauptstadt ein ganzes Album zu widmen. Die Idee dafür entstand, als Dorau gemeinsam mit zwei Freunden an einem Stadtplan Lübecks arbeitete und dessen brachliegende Geschichten abseits der üblichen Attraktionen erforschte. In Dorau entflammte die Faszination für das Porträtieren einer Stadt aus der Sicht des unvoreingenommenen Touristen, des Besuchers und Außenstehenden. Musikalisch spannt das Album einen weiten Bogen und bietet sowohl wunderschöne Pop-Momente ("Der Regen in Wien"), knarzigen Kawaii-Minimalismus zusammen mit der Kölnerin Stefanie Schrank ("Lass uns spazieren gehen") aber auch Stücke, die sich in ihrem Charakter jeder Einordnung entziehen ("Alles ist gleich"). "Wien" ist somit nicht das erwartbare Album, das der Titel zunächst vermuten lässt. Vielmehr bietet die Platte Einblicke in Andreas Doraus" persönlichen Zugang zur Stadt, die zuweilen auch ein schwierig-schmieriges Verhältnis offenbaren. Und während Popmusik aus und über Österreich im Grunde schon bei Mozart und Schönberg begann, ist Pop aus Deutschland über Österreich vermutlich eher eine Neuerung. Wenn es dann auch noch ein norddeutscher Musiker ist, der ein monothematisches Album über die österreichische Hauptstadt macht, drängt sich fast zwangsläufig die Frage auf: Ist das schon Austro-Pop?

"Wien - die Stadt mit dem wahrscheinlich schönsten Namen. Allein der Klang ist schon Musik." (Andreas Dorau) Grund genug, der österreichischen Hauptstadt ein ganzes Album zu widmen. Die Idee dafür entstand, als Dorau gemeinsam mit zwei Freunden an einem Stadtplan Lübecks arbeitete und dessen brachliegende Geschichten abseits der üblichen Attraktionen erforschte. In Dorau entflammte die Faszination für das Porträtieren einer Stadt aus der Sicht des unvoreingenommenen Touristen, des Besuchers und Außenstehenden. Musikalisch spannt das Album einen weiten Bogen und bietet sowohl wunderschöne Pop-Momente ("Der Regen in Wien"), knarzigen Kawaii-Minimalismus zusammen mit der Kölnerin Stefanie Schrank ("Lass uns spazieren gehen") aber auch Stücke, die sich in ihrem Charakter jeder Einordnung entziehen ("Alles ist gleich"). "Wien" ist somit nicht das erwartbare Album, das der Titel zunächst vermuten lässt. Vielmehr bietet die Platte Einblicke in Andreas Doraus" persönlichen Zugang zur Stadt, die zuweilen auch ein schwierig-schmieriges Verhältnis offenbaren. Und während Popmusik aus und über Österreich im Grunde schon bei Mozart und Schönberg begann, ist Pop aus Deutschland über Österreich vermutlich eher eine Neuerung. Wenn es dann auch noch ein norddeutscher Musiker ist, der ein monothematisches Album über die österreichische Hauptstadt macht, drängt sich fast zwangsläufig die Frage auf: Ist das schon Austro-Pop?

"Isolation Boulevard" ist eine Sammlung von 12 Re-Recordings aus dem umfangreichen Fundus an Sweet-Klassikern. Die Aufnahmen entstanden 2020 während der Corona-Pandemie. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist die Gesamtleistung aller Beteiligten umso beeindruckender, vom treibenden Schlagzeug und Bass bis hin zu den "in your face"-Gitarren und dem stratosphärischen Gesang. Obwohl das Album unter schwierigen Bedingungen entstand, war es am Ende für alle Beteiligten ein Vergnügen "Isolation Boulevard" einzuspielen. Das Resultat spricht für sich selbst.

Transparent Red Vinyl

Produced by Dynazty themselves and mixed by Swedish pioneer Jens Bogren, Game of Faces takes you on a journey exploring the essence of the human mind and existence with lyrical themes such as self-discovery, spiritual death, rebirth and re-invention.
Formed in 2008, Dynazty has over the years evolved from its humble beginnings rooted in the Scandinavian Hard Rock scene into now being a powerhouse and formidable force to be reckoned with on the top shelf of the modern melodic metal scene.
Career milestones include the 2020 chart breaking album The Dark Delight, certified for gold status in the bands home country Sweden and neighbours Finland. With single tracks Heartless Madness reaching platinum status and Presence of Mind featured in DC comics and HBO’s Peacemaker series.
Tours in recent years together with bands like Sabaton, Powerwolf, Battle Beast, Pain and Kissin Dynamite has showcased and established the band on the European continent as one of the most prominent live acts of its generation. Fast forward to August 2024 where Dynazty concluded an extensive run of European summer festivals with releasing a new song, Devilry of Ecstasy as a precursor and first taste of a yet unannounced new album

„Life has never been easy, so keep moving“ is the opening line of Making moves, the title song of SANTROFI‘s new album. Four years ago their celebrated debut ‚Alewa‘ introduced this 8 piece Highlife collective powerhouse from Accra to the world.

After five solid years on the road, SANTROFI is now ready to release some fresh material. co-produced and mixed by four-time Grammy Award winner Jerry Boys (REM, Ali Farka Toure, Buena Vista Social Club, Orchestra Baobab, Kronos Quartet). The band has continued an intense tour schedule, with 2024 seeing their first shows in the USA as well as a Japan tour of with 13 sold out shows 2024. where.

Making moves is both a celebration of SANTROFI’s roots and a leap into the future of Highlife. The opening track Amina is a Ghanaian childhood game turned Highlife Funk. It draws from the past, pushing it into the future. The title song Making moves sees Santrofi team up with the current booming Afrobeatscene in Ghana: It features Ghanas Newcomers Kofi Jamar and Arathejay. The song talks about trying to survive on the sometimes crazy streets of Accra without loosing your mind. Su nkwa sees Santrofi celebrating their love for typical Sikji Highlife music. And the nostalgic No money, no honey sums up yet another common truth from the streets of Accra. From the opening Highlife funk of Amina to the Ghanaian-childhood-game-turned- boogie-banger Gyae me how, this record will get you dancing.

Led by producer-bassist Kojo Ofori, SANTROFI unites 8 of Accra’s most gifted musicians with a passion for both vintage highlife grooves and a hip hop sensibility. Members of the band have played with leading Ghanaian artists including Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, Ambolley, AK Yeboah and highlife pioneer AB Crentsil with whom they recorded just before he passed away - watch out for that!

SANTROFI have shared stage and studio with rising stars of Ghana’s vibrant urban music scene such as Kidi, Yaw Tog, Black Sherif, AratheJay and even Nigerian superstar Wizkid (who has made Accra his second home). The upcoming album sees the band teaming up with some of the most exciting talents in Ghana‘s such as AratheJay and Kofi Jamar.

If you think it is impossible to play a funk groove (or even drill) over a pulsing Highlife clave: SANTROFI will prove you wrong. Listen to the phrasing of SANTROFI‘s horn section, hear the Highlife clave running through every bar of their music. Santrofi are pushing Ghanas Highlifegrooves into the future without loosing its sweet soul. And don’t forget to come and see them Making moves live in your city.

Franco Rosso’s epic cinematic opus of reggae social commentary, Babylon, landed in November of 1980. Moving through the film’s opening frames of grey dreary London, two spars – Blue and Ronnie – run with unrestrained anticipation to link with their Ital Lion Sound System brethren. Simultaneously the rest of the crew does what sound crews have done from time: Load them boxes up in the van and trod with vigor to the dance.

But that bassline…The soundtrack notes that carry the celluloid movements of the film’s opening scenes…That bassline…Upside down…Jazzy…Dubby…A bassline like no other reggae bassline the Ital Counselor has ever heard. The hook that got me deep into UK roots music from the band that is my number one inspiration.

If there is bassline that represents the core imperative of Ital Counselor Records, it would have to be Aswad’s Hey Jah Children. It seemed therefore only fitting to bring its absolutely resplendent glory to a new generation. Lovers of sounds and blues, it is time for the dread ital lion sound to once again rise to meet the day. So it is with the deepest of gratitude and respect to the legacy of Aswad (RIP Drummie Zeb) and Franco Rosso, that we present a deeper than deep next cut…Christened here…the Ital Lion Serenade.

In line with all IC releases, we have enlisted top tier session musicians and studio men. Long time IC collaborator, Inyaki BDF, is at the center of the action as the musical maestro. Hopping on the BDF sonic lorry are Aratz Diez on Trombone and James Zugasti on the dub mixes. This crew bring the original composition up-to-date with a heady dubwise weight. Syndrums ricochet while Inyaki’s bassline rumbles teetering as it does somewhere between a modern dubstep warble and its core roots-wise influence in Tony Gad’s original playing.

Diez’s trombone playing comes across like an x-ray of the Aswad Horn Section and keeps intact the jazzy abstraction of the original. In turn, Inyaki goes full 70s synth on the psychedelic dubwise of the B-side’s Operation Swamp 81. UK history buffs better you know the reference in that title and its thematic echoing significance from the UK depicted in Rosso’s film and carried on in remembrance on this here hotter than hot 12”.

A warning: the Zugasti dub cuts are devasting to speaker boxes.

Born as a culture and art movement that began in the Bronx in New York city in 1973, Hip Hop emerged from neigh- borhood block parties thrown by the Black Spades, an African-American group that at the time was describes a being a gang, a club, and a music group. Since then, and for the last fifty years, Hip hop culture has spread to both urban and suburban communities throughout the United States and subsequently the world, Furthermore, it has become a phenomenon that influenced music, fashion and pop culture as a whole. An album that features many of the most influential artists of the genre, including Run DMC, LL Cool J, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Ice-T, Slick Rick, Eric B, & Rakim, Naughty By Nature and Big Daddy Kane among many others. It also includes a curated selection extrac- ted from the Rap Mania: The Roots Of Rap event, which was a bi-coastal simulcast concert that brought together some of the most popular Hip Hop artists of that era for a one-time-only show. East Coast Hip Hop meets West Coast Hip Hop before the gangsta craze and east vs west rivalry really got started. The show was a celebration of the 15th Anniversary of Hip Hop and took place simultaneously at the Apollo Theater in New York City and The Palace Theater in Hollywood. With fantastic artwork and remastered sound, this is essential collection, that any hip hop fan will treasure and that will help as an introduction to those interested in knowing more about a movement that changed the course of pop culture. Also, remember that this is not available on streaming platforms.

Alternate versions of tracks from Marc Mac's Def Radio Album. The album marks the return of Marc Mac's long-running Visioneers project. As ever with Visioneers, this record reimagines the default stock of hip-hop's best-stocked jukebox, often beginning from scratch focusing on a central sample used in the original Hip Hop song, to either recontextualise a classic or come up with a new song; whatever the case, the key hallmark of a Visioneers is its live instrumentation, with flaunts a *gauche et droite* mastery over hip-hop's laggard swing.



a A1: What It Mean (Battle Cut) 45

Drumsauw returns to DCLTD for the second time this year with 4 new tracks off his new EP 'Empire.' The title track 'Empire' is a thrumming blend of high speed percussion keeps up techno pressure, counterpointed by a soulful female vocal intoning with Middle Eastern sounds giving a melodic element. Followed by 'Cycles,' a demanding percussion like hammer blows races along, while spacey horns with doppler FX and dark, plangent synth tremolo arps bring an otherworldly, sinister vibe in a huge breakdown/drop. Next comes 'Collision,' rampant, bounding beats, loud rattling backbeat, with a robotic spoken female vocal riff changing pace, slowing in breakdowns before the racing tempo reasserts itself. And lastly 'Comet' that has the fast layered percussion, interspersed with pizzicato melody, varies pitch, becoming frantic, distorted, in the breakdowns. The vocal riff running through adds to the drama; nervy, hyper, disturbing.

Emmanuel Mario returns to Karaoke Kalk with his third album under his Astrobal moniker for the Berlin-based imprint. »L’uomo e la natura« (»Man and Nature«) sees the prolific drummer and producer, who has worked with artists such as Laetitia Sadier and label mate Pink Shabab, take a different musical route than before. The French electronic music composer pays homage to the spirit of library music while also making concessions to different strains of pop and even classical music. With only two of the ten songs putting words to the music, »L’uomo e la natura« is a masterful exercise in the evocation of atmospheres: expressing much while saying very little outright—show, don’t tell.

The album was born out of a desire to push the envelope. »I wanted to make music that was both pop and ambitious in its chord progressions as well as surprising in its construction,« explains the Paris-based artist. Taking inspiration from library music artists such as Alessandro Alessandroni or Bruno Nicolai as well as the more cosmic strains of electronic instrumental music, he strove »to create a soundtrack that would immediately bring to mind outer space.« The first of the three singles released ahead of the full album, »L’abeille pourpre,« captures this spirit with funky rhythms and an overjoyed interplay of different melodies, all tied together by wordless yet terminally catchy vocals.

The second single, »Miami 2064,« traverses through many different moods in its six-minute run-time: Starting off as neo-noir synth-wave piece, it then proceeds to pay its dues to the masters of the cosmic music tradition such as Tangerine Dream or, of course, Jean-Michel Jarre before slowly descending back to Earth with guitars and dreamy synthetic vocals, playfully punctuated by a plethora of wistful melodies. It is the perfect encapsulation of the open-ended approach Mario follows throughout the entire album, taking full creative licence in regards to songwriting and arrangements. »I wanted to surprise myself,« he shrugs. He succeeded.

»L’uomo e la natura« rewards multiple listens not only emotionally, but also intellectually. »I also wanted to talk about politics and ecology, because it’s impossible not to,« Mario notes. Some of the track titles express this more openly than others and the two title tracks sung by Mario and Nina Savary use French and Italian lyrics, respectively. However, as a whole the album leaves things open to interpretation. Does »The End of Capitalism« sound elegiac or triumphant? And what do you actually make of this musical vision of the Floridian metropolis, whose mere existence is threatened by climate change already today, four decades from now? Mario doesn’t necessarily answer these questions—he doesn’t tell, he shows.

We are glad to introduce you to our new full length album, sound designed and arranged by Spanish duo Crime as Service. Their musical output has always been solid and consistent, always offering diverse visions on techno sound.

For this particular work they have explored the deepest side of their sound palette, starting with the beatless intro Unlocked, made of subtle drones and field recordings.

Next track is Altered Circuits, a bass heavy groove on the first bars soon followed by mechanical components colliding with atmospheres and micro drone. A combination of pressure and deepness.

Shadow Crew follows with a continuous sequence over a shuffled beat, the usual textures appear on top of the main synth line spicing the mood, until bleeps and asymmetrical components complete the equation.

Zombie Botnet changes the mood drastically, adrenaline goes up and new sonic components add hypnosis to the overall feel as the track goes by.

Second slice of plastic opens with Lazarus Group, intense and dark with super effected synth lines running through the stereo field wisely.

Darknet Operation, as the title suggests, is opaque and gray but also liquid with water samples appearing randomly along the arrangement. The groove behind is relentless and effective, one more time mixing intensity with mindfulness.

Unknown Exploits shares similar feelings as the previous one, a combination of tension and sonic details.

Closing the release, Deconstructed Blockchain, aimed directly for the dancefloor with a psychedelic approach on the main sound, constantly mutating and evolving as the minutes go.

A solid collection of well-crafted techno tunes, aside from tendencies and hype, made to last.

Remastered vinyl copy in a Vinyl Fanatiks housebag with a black paper inner. Pressed on 180g Black Vinyl. The original red vinyl pressing sold out back in 2021. Cut by Beau at Ten Eight Seven. Limited run of 150.

Mit "Nobody Loves You More" veröffentlicht Kim Deal am 22.11.24 auf 4AD ihr erstes Soloalbum. Die elf Songs umfassende Sammlung ist das erste Album der in Dayton, Ohio lebenden Künstlerin unter ihrem eigenen Namen. "Nobody Loves You More" ist Kim Deals Debütalbum, obwohl es nicht das erste Mal ist, dass sie einen Alleingang unternimmt - 2013 veröffentlichte sie im Eigenverlag eine fünfteilige Reihe von zehn Songs, die limitiert als 7" erschienen. Im Einklang mit Deals akribischer Herangehensweise an ihre Kunst, wurde das Album über mehrere Jahre hinweg verfeinert. Die ältesten Songs, "Are You Mine?" und "Wish I Was", wurden 2011 geschrieben und aufgenommen, kurz nachdem Deal von der "Lost Cities Tour" der Pixies zurückkam und nach Los Angeles umzog (frühe Versionen dieser Songs waren in der besagten Vinyl-Serie enthalten). Die letzten Aufnahmen für "Nobody Loves You More" fanden im November 2022 mit dem legendären Tontechniker und engen Freund Steve Albini statt, der den letzten Track "A Good Time Pushed" in seinem Electrical Audio Studio in Chicago einspielte. Auf dem Weg dorthin hat sie eine Vielzahl von Mitstreitern aus der Vergangenheit und Gegenwart hinzugezogen, von den Breeders (Mando Lopez, Zwillingsschwester Kelley Deal, Jim Macpherson, Britt Walford) oder auch Raymond McGinley (Teenage Fanclub), Jack Lawrence (Raconteurs) sowie Fay Milton und Ayse Hassan von den Savages. "Nobody Loves You More" wurde von Marta Salogni gemischt und von Heba Kadry gemastert. Zu jedem Song gibt es eine persönliche Geschichte. Sie handeln von den Winterferien mit ihren Eltern auf den Florida Keys ("Summerland"), einem Hochzeitsband-Cover von "Margaritaville" ("Coast") oder auch der Demenz ihrer Mutter ("Are You Mine?"). Die Platte zelebriert Deals unvergleichliche Kunstfertigkeit, die nicht nur auf die Höhepunkte ihrer Karriere mit gefeierten Bands der Alternative-Landschaft (Pixies, The Amps, The Breeders) verweist, sondern auch auf ihr unverrückbares kulturelles Gewicht, das über Generationen hinweg Musiker und Musikerinnen wie Kurt Cobain und Olivia Rodrigo beeinflusst hat.

LINEAR LABS: Sao Paulo läutet eine neue goldene Ära musikalischer Genialität ein, die durch den Maestro Adrian Younge definiert wird. Eine außergewöhnliche psychedelische und gefühlvolle Erfahrung bietet "Adrian Younge presents Linear Labs: Sao Paulo", eine Zusammenstellung von neuen Songs, die die musikalische Brillanz von Adrian Younge mit Künstlern aus der ganzen Welt präsentiert. Im Wesentlichen enthält das Album jeweils einen unveröffentlichten Song aus einer Reihe von bevorstehenden Alben, die Younge für Linear Labs produziert hat, darunter "Something About April Ill", der dritte Teil von Younge's Meisterwerk-Trilogie, und ein neues Blaxploitation-Abenteuer von Hip-Hop-Legende Snoop Dogg, mit dem Titel "Don't Cry For the Devil".

UK-based producers b.mod and Essentia debut on Rhythm Werk's Collaborative Series with a four-track EP blending powerful four-to-the-floor rhythms and intricate broken beats. Known for their releases on labels such as Arts, Soma, Liberta Records, and Suara, the duo bring a precise, high-impact sound engineered for dance floor energy and dynamic set transitions.

Each track is meticulously crafted, offering versatility for DJs--whether building intensity, maintaining flow, or creating reflective moments. This 12-inch record is a must-have for those seeking forward-thinking club tools.

Here comes a first EP by Josh Ludlow for Toy Tonics. Mastermind of Make a Dance aka M.A.D. records. London’s best kept secret (or not so secret anymore) of new underground dance weapons that are played by everybody who counts in the scene.

Josh delivers a hot 4 -tracker that will move people on dance-floors worldwide. Combining 1990es filterhouse influences, 2000’s indie dance and some of the edgy contemporary funk moods that are lighting up clubs these days. The post - techno generation likes it funky and Josh delivers. Fitting perfectly with the vibe of Toy Tonics this EP will find a lot of friends. In fact Josh knows how things work.

Josh Ludlow has been steadily honing his craft over the past 15 years. Starting out releasing Drum & Bass under the ‘Squash!’ moniker in the late 2000’s whilst also playing drums in bands. The former gave way to live touring and it was only in 2020 when Josh resurfaced with some new electronic music.

The impetus for releasing this new material was when Josh Ludlow & Ben Lewis formed there beloved project ‘Make A Dance’ (which then went on to establish the imprint) M.A.D. Records during the pandemic.
Since then M.A.D have made a big impact on the underground scene, become regulars at places such as Fabric, Heidegluhen, Gottwood and gained DJ support of propel such as Laurent Garnier, Optimo, Palms Trax and Peggy Gou and across BBC Radio1 and regularly Cover show’s on NTS for Long Running Host’s Moxie and Apiento.

This is just the beginning.

25th Anniversary Reissue. Remastered With New Artwork.

By the late 90s the independent music scene in San Diego, CA had become synonymous with noisy, post-hardcore bands that were pushing the boundaries of what it meant to be punk. Camera Obscura cut their teeth on the angular and abrasive sounds of Antioch Arrow, Clickatat Ikatowi, and Heroin, and incorporated synths and electronics to create their own dark, jarring, experimental rock sound. ‘To Change the Shape of an Envelope’, released in 2000 on Troubleman Unlimited, was their only LP. The album runs the gamut sonically with dark, high energy songs like “Twenty-Five Diamonds” and “Sarasota”, the early industrial sounds of “Something About a Nightmare”, and the shoegaze influenced “Cinematheque”.

FFO: The Faint, The VSS, and Clickatat Ikatowi.

25th Anniversary Reissue. Remastered With New Artwork.

By the late 90s the independent music scene in San Diego, CA had become synonymous with noisy, post-hardcore bands that were pushing the boundaries of what it meant to be punk. Camera Obscura cut their teeth on the angular and abrasive sounds of Antioch Arrow, Clickatat Ikatowi, and Heroin, and incorporated synths and electronics to create their own dark, jarring, experimental rock sound. ‘To Change the Shape of an Envelope’, released in 2000 on Troubleman Unlimited, was their only LP. The album runs the gamut sonically with dark, high energy songs like “Twenty-Five Diamonds” and “Sarasota”, the early industrial sounds of “Something About a Nightmare”, and the shoegaze influenced “Cinematheque”.

FFO: The Faint, The VSS, and Clickatat Ikatowi.

Four years after "The Watchful Eye Of The Stars", Adrian Crowley returns with a new John Parish-produced album "Measure of Joy" to be released on the brand new label Valley of Eyes Records. This is album 10 for Crowley: an achievement number and maybe even a career high, but the music doesn"t bother with that. They are just great songs. Crowley is a songwriter and a poet. Here, also, he is in the company of John Parish, who is always more than a producer. "Measure of Joy" is a nocturnal album. Not in the usual commonplace sense of dark and moody though it can be. The night is present in the sounds that can only be noticed when most things rest. In the lost transmission and the ghost lips that talk on the phone over sleepy jazz.

Gatefold Sleeve and on sea blue 180 GSM vinyl. Recorded as an instrumental by Tractor in Rochdale in 1971 and originally released on LP in 1972 “Shubunkin” has now been sampled by LA band Broken Bells (Danger Mouse/ Brian Burton and James Mercer, the lead vocalist and guitarist for the indie rock band The Shins) as the basis of their track “To Anyone a Ghost”. Julian Cope writes about the Tractor track “Shubunkin” : ...“Then, one night in mid 1972, John Peel played a track that was more mysterious than almost anything I had ever heard. It was the music I thereafter wanted played at my funeral and was most certainly the sound of a soul approaching the canopy of heaven as it left the earth for the last time.” ..“without the proper printed Dandelion label there to guide me, I left a blob of marker pen on the side that began with ‘Shubunkin’ and that became the ultimate beginning to any LP in my collection.” Originally Issued in late 2019 as a vinyl LP as a protest against Rochdale Boroughwide Housing’s plans to knock down four of the Seven Sisters/College Bank Flats- these blocks of flats were home to Tractor’s drummer in the 1970s as well as their manager Chris Hewitt and Andy and Liz Kershaws’ dad and a whole host of poets, musicians, tv producers etc. Many Tractor numbers were worked out in these flats prior to recording at various studios around Rochdale and Heywood. All songs written by Jim Milne and Steve Clayton. Jim Milne -vocals guitar (and bass most tracks), Steve Clayton -Drums and Percussion, Dave Addison- bass on Northern City. The album now starts the way Julian Cope always wanted to run.

By the late 90s the independent music scene in San Diego, CA had become synonymous with noisy, post-hardcore bands that were pushing the boundaries of what it meant to be punk. Camera Obscura were one of those bands. They cut their teeth on the angular and abrasive sounds of Antioch Arrow, Clickatat Ikatowi, and Heroin, and incorporated synths and electronics to create their own dark, jarring, experimental rock sound.

The band’s musical output was sparse. In addition to two 45s, the band released their only LP, To Change the Shape of an Envelope in 2000 on Troubleman Unlimited. The album runs the gamut sonically with dark, high energy songs like “Twenty-Five Diamonds” and “Sarasota”, the early industrial sound of “Something About a Nightmare”, and the shoegaze influenced “Cinematheque”.

In October of 2024, the band announced a partnership with Solid Brass records to begin work on reissuing their long out of print album. To Change the Shape of an Envelope has been completely remastered by Pete Lyman at Infrasonic Mastering with new artwork by Sonny Kay (The VSS, GSL Records).

To Change the Shape of an Envelope will be available digitally for the first time ever as well as on limited edition transparent red or opaque white vinyl on 2/7/25 from Solid Brass Records.

By the late 90s the independent music scene in San Diego, CA had become synonymous with noisy, post-hardcore bands that were pushing the boundaries of what it meant to be punk. Camera Obscura were one of those bands. They cut their teeth on the angular and abrasive sounds of Antioch Arrow, Clickatat Ikatowi, and Heroin, and incorporated synths and electronics to create their own dark, jarring, experimental rock sound.

The band’s musical output was sparse. In addition to two 45s, the band released their only LP, To Change the Shape of an Envelope in 2000 on Troubleman Unlimited. The album runs the gamut sonically with dark, high energy songs like “Twenty-Five Diamonds” and “Sarasota”, the early industrial sound of “Something About a Nightmare”, and the shoegaze influenced “Cinematheque”.

In October of 2024, the band announced a partnership with Solid Brass records to begin work on reissuing their long out of print album. To Change the Shape of an Envelope has been completely remastered by Pete Lyman at Infrasonic Mastering with new artwork by Sonny Kay (The VSS, GSL Records).

To Change the Shape of an Envelope will be available digitally for the first time ever as well as on limited edition transparent red or opaque white vinyl on 2/7/25 from Solid Brass Records.

Repress!

The sixteenth edition of Defected’s vinyl series continues to commit the label’s biggest digital releases to wax, delivering some of the best house music previously unavailable on vinyl. EP16 brings together four recent releases from Defected’s catalogue of world-class house. First up on the A-side is Claptone & Rune’s ‘Calabria’, a highly anticipated release from summer 2022 thanks to its warm familiarity, big rubbery bassline and brassy saxophone hook that captivated dancefloors instantly. Similarly, Jack Back’s ‘Feeling’ has a hint of noughties nostalgia, released in March of 2022 ready to sweep dancefloors with a rave-ready bass and electrifying vocal. The B-side opens with Ibiza stalwart Marco Faraone’s 2021 release ‘My Name’, featuring intoxicating vocals from Lolita Leopard; dripping with attitude. Closing out this club-focused collection is Payfone’s distinct ‘Day & Night’, featuring an orchestral approach to composition and a deep house groove that bursts in with ease.

Old School Runebreaks is album of official remixes of the old school RuneScape OST sanctioned by Jagex, the game's developer.

I was thrilled when Jagex asked me to put together an official remix album of the old school runescape OST. Like so many of us who grew up gaming in the 00s, RuneScape was my first introduction into online RPGs and the soundtrack is something that's stayed with me ever since. Choosing which tracks to remix was no easy task; I decided on a blend of personal favorites and iconic tunes that hold a special place in the community. It was an honor to be chosen to rework this legendary OST and I hope you all enjoy the result as much as I enjoyed creating it.

The follow up release to last years Times & Places Volume 1, which sold out in super quick time has the same four artists, each bringing their own style of old skool rave goodness to the table.
Gridzone gets us off and running with beautiful pads and an oh so familiar soothing female vocal sample. But don’t let this fool you, the harsh amens are just round the corner and when they drop, you will know about it.
Midlife Crisis has similar energy levels in their offering, the breaks are more chopped and more in a jungle vein.
On the flip is the highlight of this EP. NewKiller drops a jungle-techno stormer. 4/4 kicks with high speed breaks, hoover sounds and horror film samples. Its like 1993 all over again. Finally the EP ends with a ragga tinged rudeboy of a stepper from Gold Soundz.

Founded in 1979 in Sesto San Giovanni by Roberto Fusar Poli, Il Disco o began as a small, family-run record store, quickly evolving into a hub for imported music and a pioneer in the "disco dance" genre.

By 1981, it had expanded into music distribu/on and produc/on, aligning with the rise of Italo Disco—a genre blending synth-pop and electronic disco inspired by ar/sts like Giorgio Moroder and Bobby Orlando. Its first release, "I'm A Vocoder" by Gay Cat Park, marked the start of a prolific catalog that included hits like "You Are A Danger" by Gary Low and "Comanchero" by Raggio Di Luna, cemen/ng Il Disco o’s reputa/on in Italy and abroad.

At its peak, the label produced up to one record a day and distributed interna/onal hits like "Don’t You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds.

Mark Broom drops the fifth volume of ‘Mutated Battle Breaks’.

Mark Broom’s ‘Mutated Battle Breaks’ series on Radio Slave’s Rekids Special Projects dates back to 2021; since then, he’s released four volumes, with its next chapter arriving to mark the label’s first EP of 2025. Each ‘Mutated Battle Breaks’ EP consists of an extended runtime of eight tracks, supported by the likes of Robert Hood, Ben UFO, I.Jordan, Pariah, Carista, Mumdance, Lauren Flax, and many more.

Across volume 5 of ‘Mutated Battle Breaks’, Mark Broom primes eight more dancefloor-ready cuts complete with rugged grooves, punchy stabs, and wild Techno sequences. From the opener ‘Romance’ and its frenzied arrangement, through to the rolling bleep-infused ‘Ranger’, Broom once again shows his mastery of rhythm and the breath of his Techno productions - one thing is certain: he continues to be one of the most significant producers in Techno after more than three decades.

Techno, House, and rave, Mark Broom is one of UK dance music’s legends and has a myriad of production credits to his name dating back to 1989. Warp, M-Plant, Hardgroove, and his own Pure Plastic and Beardman imprints are just a handful of the labels he’s worked with, while studio collaborations with the likes of Baby Ford and James Ruskin have cemented his reputation as a storied and vital part of electronic music culture.

Ocean Moon - alias of producer Jon Tye (MLO).

In addition to running the long-standing label Lo Recordings, Tye has recorded under various names and been involved in numerous projects over the past three decades. Keen fans of the label may also notice that this isn't Tye's first collaboration with MFM; his work during the 1990's as part of UK ambient group MLO captured our attention years ago, leading to the release of their retrospective album 'Oumuamua' in 2021.

Releasing archival work alongside new material from an artist has been a fundamental aspect of Music From Memory's identity since we began the label, and is something that continues to bring us immense joy. With Jon continuing to produce work under a wide range of names to this day, the short step to releasing this new work was organic and natural. Working under the name Ocean Moon Jon carries echoes of his work with MLO into the modern day, weaving an ambient electronic music that radiates gentle positivity.

The title 'Ways To The Deep Meadow' is inspired by the poem 'Universal Solar Calendar' written by poet, mystic, shaman, and visionary Angus Maclise. Maclise began as the percussionist in an early iteration of La Monte Young's Theatre Of Eternal Music and later played with the Velvet Underground before moving to Nepal, where he wrote and published an impressive collection of poetry and music.

Side one of the album was created at a time when Tye had been exploring ideas around artificial intelligence, delving into books such as 'The Physics Of Immortality' by Frank J. Tippler, 'Novacene' by James Lovelock, and '12 Bytes' by Jeanette Winterson, seeking an alternative to the prevalent, negative views of AI. He was also inspired by the Buddhist perspective of AI as an integral part of consciousness evolution, as evidenced by the creation of a Buddhist robot that preaches in the Kodaiji Temple in Kyoto.

Side two consists of two long-form pieces, one composed for Janine Rook's 'Made In Dreams' exhibition and the other for Vix Hill Ryder's 'Wild Edges' film. For 'Made In Dreams', text from the exhibition catalogue was processed via the Holly Herndon Holly + app to create an environment that is simultaneously otherworldly and warm.

As with much of Jon's work, this music seeks to nurture an optimistic outlook in the listener, something he achieves here with subtlety and a truly delicate touch. The immersive ambient music of 'Ways To The Deep Meadow' reaches out to the listener like gentle trails of light, offering it's spells,invocations and enchantments to all who choose to listen.

'Ways To The Deep Meadow' will be released on 31st January 2025 on LP as well as digitally. Sleeve art and design by Michael Willis.

Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan's new album, Your Community Hub, compellingly continues his sonic exploration of the New Towns movement. The issues the councillors, planners, and architects set out to solve still resound and echo throughout society.

For the latest instalment in this unique project, Gordon Chapman-Fox turns his laser eye to focus on Community and the Community Centres that populated Warrington and Runcorn in order to provide all the facilities people needed within a five minute walk from their home. These planning ideas predated the current discussions of fifteen minute cities by fifty years.

Those 50 years have seen a decline in our community centres and services: handy access to a GP or dentist, Post Offices, youth clubs, local shops, banking and much more. Successive governments have undermined and eroded those basic services. The decline in community services has also been matched with a decline in community and shared experiences with a knock-on effect on the population's health and well-being. The disastrous austerity policies imposed over the last 15 years have exacerbated this long, slow reduction in available spaces for people to meet and communicate, with seemingly no recognition of the societal impact that causes. Short-termism at the expense of the community and how we live our lives.

Margaret Thatcher's statement that "there is no such thing as society" has been taken as a mission statement by successive Conservative governments who have aimed to remove as much support and communality from the citizens as possible. It continues now, the wrong-headed idea that everyone can be left to fend for themselves.

Chapman-Fox's latest album decries the cruelty of where we find ourselves in 2024 and his quiet incandescence about the loss of optimism for what communities should be and could be. It's his most powerful work, and as always, it will deeply resonate with those who tune in to his unique vision and unparalleled productions.

As ever, beautifully packaged and designed by Gordon, the album artwork features photographs from the archive of the architect Peter Garvin, which was kindly provided by his son Richard Garvin. The photographs show Peter's work on the Castlefield Community Centre, a sleek modernist structure clad in white ceramic tiles.

The long-awaited new full-length from legendary electronic pioneers THE ORB with cover design from iconic graphic wizards THE DESIGNERS REPUBLIC • A fascinating sonic journey over four epic tracks, constantly switching between psychedelic flourishes and beat-driven focus

Veritable pioneers of electronic music, iconic act THE ORB returns to Kompakt with the new full-length MOONBUILDING 2703 AD - another major slice of psychedelic synth bliss, obscure loops and deep ambient textures tossed in swinging breakbeats and powerful basslines. Installing a forward momentum rather unusual for a genre-defying project like this, the latest effort from masterminds Alex Paterson and Thomas Fehlmann follows their 2005 album success on Kompakt, the cheekily named "Okie Dokie It's The Orb On Kompakt" (KOMPAKT CD 45), as well as several contributions to our Speicher and Pop Ambient series - but more importantly, it finds the legendary duo at the peak of its creativity, ringing in another essential phase in what can only be called a ground-breaking career.

True to form, the new offering MOONBUILDING 2703 AD features a small track list, but turns each one of its four cuts into a mini epic in its own right. Opener GOD'S MIRRORBALL hits the ground floating, employing a handful of cozy statics to great effect before finally discharging into an intricate mosaic of atmospheric melodic sketches and gripping rhythms. With a hypnotic runtime of more than 14 minutes, it immediately establishes a blueprint for the other album tracks to follow, perfectly illustrating the vast extent of the artists' vision and their impressive skills in luring in listeners - welcome to THE ORB's sonic labyrinth, where nothing is what it seems and the unexpected waits just around the corner.

Likewise, follow-up track MOONSCAPES 2703 BC presents itself as a uniquely versatile affair sitting comfortably between ambient flourishes and beat-driven focus, holding as many twists and turns as a caper movie, but carefully grounding every single one of its cliffhangers in its impeccable flow. With a runtime of approximately 9 minutes, LUNAR CAVES is the shortest jam of the bunch - and also the most ethereal, keeping its rhythmic content to a bare, pulse-like minimum and opting for enticing, freewheeling synth textures instead. Album closer and title cut MOONBUILDING 2703 AD introduces a surprisingly jazzy vibe mingling rather well with the wealth of electronic tricks up its sleeve - even indulging in abrasive bass sweeps and a breathtaking multitude of different rhythm sections constantly switching places. It's a fitting closing act for a full-length as multifaceted as this, as idiosyncratic as possible and as muscling as needed.


• Das langerwartete neue Album der legendären Elektronikpioniere THE ORB mit einem Coverdesign der gefeierten Graphikschmiede THE DESIGNERS REBUBLIC • Eine faszinierende Klangreise über vier epische Tracks hinweg, permanent zwischen psychedelischen Schlüsselreizen und beatgetriebenem Fokus changierend

Mit THE ORB kehren echte Pioniere der elektronischen Musik zu Kompakt zurück - der Langspieler MOONBUILDING 2703 AD präsentiert erneut einen grossen Wurf in Richtung psychedelischen Synthie-Segens, obskurer Loops und porentiefer Ambient-Texturen, geschwenkt in schwungvollen Breakbeats und wirkmächtigen Basslines. Mit einem für genresprengende Projekte wie diesem hier eher unüblichen Vorwärtsdrang beerbt das neue Album von den Großmeistern Alex Paterson und Thomas Fehlmann ihren 2005er Erfolg auf Kompakt, das augenzwinkernd benannte "Okie Dokie It's The Orb On Kompakt" (KOMPAKT CD 45), sowie einige Beiträge zu unseren Speicher- und Pop-Ambient-Serien - viel wichtiger allerdings, daß wir das legendäre Duo auf der Höhe ihrer Schaffenskraft antreffen, eine neue wesentliche Phase einläutend in einer Laufbahn, die nur als bahnbrechend bezeichnet werden kann.

In bekannter Manier hat das neue Werk MOONBUILDING 2703 AD eine eher kleine Tracklist vorzuweisen, baut dafür aber jeden seiner vier Tracks zu Mini-Epen von eigenem Recht um. Der Eröffnungsakt GOD'S MIRRORBALL schwebt einem da vor Ohren, zuerst nur mit einer Handvoll gemütlichen Rauschens bewaffnet, später dann in ein feingliedriges Mosaik von atmosphärischen Melodieskizzen und mitreissenden Rhythmen explodierend. Mit einer hypnotisierenden Lauflänge von über 14 Minuten etabliert das Stück die Blaupause für die folgenden Ereignisse, perfekt die enorme Reichweite der künstlerischen Vision und ihre Fähigkeit zur massenhaften Verführung nichtsahnender Tänzer illustrierend - willkommen in THE ORB's Klanglabyrinth, wo nichts ist wie es scheint und das Unerwartete um jede Ecke lauert.

Ähnlich präsentiert sich der Folgetrack MOONSCAPES 2703 BC als einzigartig vielseitige Angelegenheit, bequem zwischen ambienten Ornamenten und beatgetriebenem Fokus sitzend und mit sovielen Drehungen und Wendungen wie ein Gaunerfilm - doch stets seine Cliffhanger im makellosen Flow erdend. Ein wenig über 9 Minuten lang, ist LUNAR CAVES der kürzeste Entwurf in der Gruppe - und auch der ätherischste, hält er doch die Rhythmusanteile auf einem puls-ähnlichem Minimum und optiert stattdessen für freilaufende Synthie-Texturen. Das letzte Kapitel des Albums schließlich ist auch der Titeltrack: MOONBUILDING 2703 AD besitzt eine überraschend jazzige Note, die sich ziemlich gut in den Reichtum an elektronischen Tricks einfügt, welche hier aus dem Ärmel geschüttelt werden - sogar in rauem Bass schwelgend und eine atemberaubende Vielfalt an Rhythmussektionen aufrufend, die ständig die Plätze tauschen. Es ist ein passender Abschluss für ein derart facettenreiches Album, so idiosynkratisch wie möglich und so anschiebend wie nötig.