quête:the producer

Repress!

RYUICHI SAKAMOTO'S 1985 ELECTRONIC AND AMBIENT CLASSIC RELEASED OUTSIDE OF JAPAN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ITS ORIGINAL RELEASE WITH NEW LINER NOTES BY ANDY BETA AND AUDIO REMASTERED BY SEIGEN ONO

Wewantsounds continues their Ryuichi Sakamoto reissue series with the release of the 1985 album "Esperanto", composed for a performance by New York avant garde choreographer Molissa Fenley. Produced and performed by Sakamoto with contribution by Arto Lindsay and Japanese percussionist Yas-Kaz, "Esperanto" is a fascinating instrumental work mixing electronica, ambient and synth pop. Released in Japan in 1985 on Midi Inc.s' School label, the album has never been released outside of Japan until now. This special reissue comes with original artwork including a 2 pages insert with a new introduction by Journalist Andy Beta. The audio has been remastered in Tokyo by Seigen Ono.
"Esperanto" originally came out in 1985 and was Ryuichi Sakamoto's sixth solo album. Coming after his stint with the influential Yellow Magic Orchestra, and also the worldwide success of Sakamoto's 1984 soundtrack for the film "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" (in which he starred alongside David Bowie), "Esperanto" was a return to Sakamoto's leftfield roots.
?Composed as the soundtrack to a performance by New York choreographer Molissa Fenley (a show commissioned by Japanese producer Shozo Tsurumoto), the album was masterminded by Sakamoto with the help of the cutting-edge electronic technology of the time (the only external contributions are by Arto Lindsay on guitar and Japanese composer Yas-Kaz on percussion).
?Indeed, the album is a fascinating soundscape experimenting with the new sampler technology - which, according to Ryuichi Sakamoto from a conversation with journalist Andy Beta mentioned in the liner notes, needed a computer that was huge at the time.
?Esperanto is composed of eight tracks displaying a varied mix of influences. "A Wongga Dance Song" is pulsating with rhythms while "A Rain Song" adopts a minimalist mode with its distinctive
repetitive pattern. "Dolphins" and "A Carved Stone" are captivating ambient pieces showcasing Sakamoto's talent for setting beautiful abstract melodic ornaments over atmospheric tones.
?One of the highlights of the album is "Adelic Penguins", a fascinating proto techno piece with a funky twist stretching over six minutes which echoes the electro funk of 1981's album "Hidari Ude No Yume." "Ulu Watu", a collage-like piece featuring bird motives and a tropical soundscape closes the album with an experimental note. It's interesting to note that, a year later, the tracks from "Esperanto" would be turned into an experimental video project by New York visual artists Kit Fitzgerald and Nam June Paik collaborator Paul Garrin.
?A unique album in Ryuichi Sakamoto's rich discography, "Esperanto" is a groundbreaking work worth rediscovering in its full glory.

Repress!

The 25th of September will see two of house and techno’s most-established talents collaborate on their debut release together, as Hot Creations head Jamie Jones teams up with Mood Records boss Nicole Moudaber on Pepper Shake.

Short, sweet and with no filler involved, Pepper Shake gets us underway swiftly, and the name certainly does the track justice. Up-tempo hats whistle beside a driving bassline, before a female vocal reels in and out. The styles of both artists are present throughout, with Jamie’s signature groove providing the foundation and Nicole’s deeper techno style coming through in the synths. Bubble Ride completes the release. Dark, gritty and harder-edged than its predecessor, this is a stripped-back peak-time club cut, with a penetrating bassline and hard-hitting kick patterns. The occasional pulse of an atmospheric sample further enhances the body of the track, to form something that’s built solely for the dancefloor.

As a world-renowned DJ and producer, head of Hot Creations and founder of the global Paradise event series, Jamie Jones has etched out a legacy in electronic music that few others can attest to. His personally curated Paradise series offers an international showcase of house and techno’s most recognisable artists, whilst his flagship label, Hot Creations, continues to pioneer a contemporary house sound. At the forefront of the MOOD brand, with offshoots including a record label (Mood Records), warehouse parties (MoodRAW), festival stages (MoodZONE) and a renowned global radio show (In the MOOD), Nicole Moudaber has rightfully established herself as a worldwide techno mainstay.

Formed in Manchester over a decade ago, Hurts are an electronic pop band featuring vocalist Theo Hutchcraft and multi instrumentalist and producer Adam Anderson. Known for their striking and stylish videos, Hurts make epic, dramatic pop music that takes inspiration from a finely curated mix of influences including '70s Krautrock, '80s new wave, and '90s R&B. In August of 2010, Hurts' debut full-length album, Happiness, debuted in the Top 5 on the U.K. albums chart making it the fastest-selling debut album by a band in the U.K. that year. Featuring the singles "Better Than Love," "Wonderful Life," and "Stay," among others. The album was a huge success across Europe and Hurts' profile rose exponentially with the album reaching Platinum status 13 times over and 4 times Gold around the world including over 500,000 album sales in Germany alone. Several accolades followed in 2010, including topping the BBC's Sound of 2010 poll, winning a German BAMBI award, and garnering numerous nominations including an MTV Europe Music Award. The band have since gone on to win numerous awards including Best Band and Best Video at the NME Awards and Best International Newcomer at Germanys ECHO Awards. Hurts followed up in 2013 by releasing their sophomore album, Exile, which again hit the U.K. albums chart Top 10. The album again featured production from Hutchcraft and Anderson, along with Quant and Dan Grech-Marguerat, also featuring Elton John as guest Pianist on album closer “Help". Exile showcased a nuanced, somewhat more contemporary sound that incorporated more orchestral and rock instrumentation, yet retained all of Hurts’ core influences. In 2015, Hurts delivered their third studio album, Surrender, which featured production from Quant as well as Stuart Price (Madonna, the Killers) and Ariel Rechtshaid (HAIM, Vampire Weekend). The album spawned several singles, including "Some Kind of Heaven," "Lights," and “Slow. The epic video for “Lights", directed by Dawn Shadforth gaining the numerous nominations for Video of the Year. Two years later, they returned with the full-length Desire, featuring the singles "Beautiful Ones" and "Ready to Go.” Having sold hundreds of thousands of live show tickets around the world over the past decade, and often a fixture of the global festival circuit headlining stages around the world, the band have built an enviable touring fanbase including becoming one of the most successful British bands in Russia of the past decade.

Prince will forever be remembered as a commanding live performer, chart-topping recording artist, and music business revolutionary. Yet for all the time he spent in the spotlight over his four-decade-long career, Prince also worked tirelessly behind the scenes to nurture talent and pen songs for the rising artists he respected.

Sourced directly from Prince’s vast archive of Vault recordings, ORIGINALS is a brand new 15-track album featuring 14 previously unreleased recordings that illuminates the vital, behind-the-scenes role Prince played in other artists’ careers. These are more than just demos, the production quality has been kept high and the recordings resemble a pristine quality similar to that of Nothing Compares 2 U released last year.

By the mid-1980s, Prince was dominating the charts even as a writer/producer with songs he’d composed and recorded for others. In addition to releasing nine of his most commercially successful full-length albums, he also wrote and recorded endless reels of material for proteges The Time, Vanity 6, Sheila E., Apollonia 6, Jill Jones, the Family, and Mazarati. Several of the iconic songs found on ORIGINALS were considerable hits for the artists who recorded them.

Freerange regular Simbad is back with a new 4 track EP following on from his 2021 Peaceful Revolution EP which got big support from Ron Trent, Gilles Peterson, Osunlade and Horse Meat Disco to name a few. Having based himself in Cape Town the last 5 or so years, the French born producer and DJ is one of the most prolific artists in the scene having notched up countless EP’s, remixes and production work for labels like Apron, G.A.M.M. Faces, Hyperdub, Atjazz, BBE & Brownswood. His association with Gilles Peterson and Worldwide runs deep, hosting regular shows on WWFM as well as traversing the globe delivering his unique and eclectic sets from Africa to Asia and beyond.

Lead track Nuphoria kicks things off in typical Simbad genre-bending style, sitting in a sweet spot between the Baltimore house of Karizma, the epic, uplifting techno of Laurent Garnier and the UK-centric rave sounds of Bicep and Kieren Hebden. Not an easy track to pigeon-hole but one that can’t fail to grab the dancers attention if dropped at the right time on a discerning dance floor.

Up next we have Dream featuring SA native Sanele who delivers a beautiful, raw and intimate vocal performance which fits perfectly with Simbads’ roughed-up drums and chiming Rhodes chords.

Flipping over Simbad delivers an alternate Pretoria Mix of Nuphoria which slows the pace of the original, adds a more rhythmic bassline and spoken word sample. A deeper alternative to the original which retains the euphoric quality thanks to its epic synth line and chords.

Closing out the release we have Wake Up featuring Frederick of Fifty Fathoms Deep who contributes to a bright and breezy house track with soulful chords and bouncing square wave bass line.

A duo of producers who had worked with rapper MC Solaar released their first EP Tribulations Extra Sensorielles in 1994. Philippe Zdar and Hubert Boombass became known under the name La Funk Mob, offering a timeless trip-hop sound with jazz and funk influences. Signed to British label Mo" Wax, a benchmark in the genre, they proved that French artists were to be taken seriously across the Channel. A few years later, the two friends embarked on a more house-oriented project: Cassius.

Warehouse Find!

Undoubtedly one of the most exciting acts to have emerged in drum & bass over the past decade, Voltage has joined forces with Hospital Records for the release of his long-awaited studio album 'Balance Over Symmetry' which marks the tenth year of his journey as a solo artist.

No stranger to the Hospital family with an album, 2 EPs and a handful of singles under his belt as part of drum & bass powerhouse group Kings Of The Rollers, it's now time to explore the solo sounds of Voltage which have slowly but surely carved him to be one of the most respected DJ & producers in the scene.

In his true rambunctious style, Voltage sets the swing with a wild card. 'So Close' is a sub-120BPM synthwave weapon which matches his retro-inspired fashion to his musical vibrations. The combination of catchy vocals, an 80s-esque bassline and an unforgettable topline melody sees the creation of something extremely different yet irresistible from Voltage.

Not straying too far from the roots of his influences, 'Natty Love' features the groove inducing vocals of sound system legend Sweetie Irie. Saturated sub wobbles juxtaposed with potent string plucks are intertwined with ease, peppered with that signature Voltage flair.

Teaming up with reggae and dancehall superstar Demolition Man known for his skill as a vocalist, producer, MC and sound engineer, 'Life Of A DJ' combines the sounds of Demo's with Voltage's unmissable sonic technique. 'Save Me From Myself' exposes
the lighter side to Voltage as he illustrates his versatility as an artist through a soul-heavy amen roller with a classic liquid bassline.

Reminiscent of the days of euphoric hardcore, 'Keep On Dancing' sets the vibe with uplifting piano chops and adrenalised vocals as crunchy snaps and rhythmic cymbals keep things moving beneath. An iconic duo to everyone who knows their drum & bass, Voltage and Evil B come together for 'Odyssey' which sees ambient soundscapes
and earnest lyrics on a truly heartfelt piece of music.

With releases on foundational imprints such as Metalheadz, 31 Recordings, RAM, Souped Up and Spearhead to name a few, Voltage's discography speaks for itself in laying down his years’ worth of experience within drum & bass. With support for his productions coming from a wide range of influential selectors including the likes of Andy C, Hype, Friction, Goldie, Bailey, Hazard and Bryan Gee, it's safe to say that 10 years of Voltage has been a remarkable decade to say the least. Here's to 10 more…

This is part of an ongoing 45 series that also features Westside Gunn, Raekwon, Blu, Conway The Machine, DJ Babu, Curren$y, and others. This 7" single will set the table for Rude One's official follow-up, Upper Space, which will release physically and digitally on October 11th. The album contains a new single with Roc Marciano as well as songs with Valee, RXK Nephew, Pink Siifu, Stove God Cooks, The Twilite Tone, and more. DJ Rude One's ONEderful LP was released in 2016 and earned praise from Pitchfork (6.9), HipHopDX, XXL, Noisey, Fakeshoredrive, and others. It featured Conway, Your Old Droog, Westside Gunn, and Roc Marciano, all of whom are at the top of the Underground Hip Hop food chain. "His rasping voice is suited for Rude One’s gritty sound. Almost everything here is sonically consistent, with rapper and producer perfectly in sync." - Pitchfork. Full color jacket 7". Roc Marciano is hailed as a leader in Hip Hop's current underground renaissance. The smooth rapper and producer has his fingerprints all over the scene, and regularly receives praise from critics and his established peers. In 2016, Roc lent his services to DJ Rude One's ahead of its time LP, ONEderful. Together, the two crafted stand out cuts such as "Triple Black Benz" and "Murder Paragraphs", the latter of which is the latest installment of Closed Sessions limited 7" series. "Murder Paragraphs" is Roc Marciano at his finest and showcases DJ Rude One's signature less-is-more, grimy sound. This 7" contains the original and instrumental version, new artwork by Spectacular Diagnostics, and follows previous entries from Raekwon, Blu, WestSide Gunn, Conway, Open Mike Eagle, and more. This pressing is limited to 500 copies, and will also set the table for DJ Rude One's forthcoming LP, Upper Space, which will feature Stove God Cooks, Valee, RXK Nephew, and of course a new collaboration with Roc Marciano.

Following their 2020 collaboration on "Real Bad Boldy", prolific Detroit rapper Boldy James and LA producer Real Bad Man are back at it with their new album "Killing Nothing". Picking up right where they left off, the two are creating a music score to a gritty, grimy and filthy street tale, recruiting accomplices CRIMEAPPLE, Knowledge The Pirate, Rome Streetz, and Stove God Cook to add further depth and diversity to the album's sonic landscape. Each guest artist brings their own unique style and perspective to their respective tracks, enhancing the album's richness and variety.

The collaborative masterpiece between rapper Boldy James and producer Real Bad Man blends gritty lyricism with innovative production. Boldy James, known for his intricate storytelling and vivid street narratives, brings his raw authenticity to every track, painting vivid pictures of urban life and survival. Real Bad Man's production style, characterized by its eclectic mix of boom-bap beats, soulful samples, and experimental soundscapes, provides the perfect backdrop for Boldy's wordplay.

BOBBY ROBINSON was more than a fixture in hisNew York community, he had been an essential part of its lifeblood for over 60 years. Had he just been the proprietor of the first record store (and reputedly the first black-owned business) on 125th Street, he would have been important enough, but he also had an ear for talent, recording landmark music across four decades, always at home with the music of his neighbourhood, be it doo-wop, R&B, soul or even rap.

He was an entrepreneur involved in over a dozen different labels, sometimes on his own, sometimes with a partner, often with his brother Danny, and he was behind records that became internationally famous by Gladys Knight, King Curtis, Elmore James, Lee Dorsey, Wilbert Harrison and Grandmaster Flash. He made many more that were simply good, and this compilation takes aim at the great work he did as a soul and R&B producer during the 1960s and early 70s. It’s an introduction that shows the quality that he created had depth beyond the headline names.

After releasing Flares, the multi-hatted producer and member of La Fine Équipe is back with « Birds », an ode to Lo-Fi and a testament to his love for nature and birds.

While Blanka remains the sole captain on « Birds », he also takes the opportunity to invite several of his long-standing collaborators (Sara Lugo, Onra,…) as well as new encounters (De Phase, King Krab, Papa Rua,…). All the tracks were created on the spot with the same direction. Whether in the choice of textures or instruments, all the guests and musicians put themselves at the service of the chosen theme.

The word Simultaneity is a technical term from the theory of Special Relativity representing two distinct events happening at the same time. This fluidity is embodied in the musical exploration of Ari Tsugi. Comprised of mostly self-taught musicians, the soundscape is a unique melting pot of UK Jazz scenes and the raw energy that comes from psychedelic rock. Produced and mixed by Glasgow-based musician Sam Bancroft (Starsky-Rae) alongside engineer-producer Villus Vilo Jokubaitis, the album features offerings from Liam Shorthall and India Blue (Azamiah) alongside the original Ari Tsugi trio -Clement Gaud, Joe Weisberg and Mashu Harada - with keys from Angus MacDonald being added later down the line.

For fans of Montrose, Van Halen, and Hard Rock! Red Voodoo is breaking out on the scene with their electric stage presence, polished harmonies, and classic but fresh new take on Rock ‘n’ Roll. Based out of Sacramento, CA the group has been playing clubs since 2019 and released two singles “Rise Up” and “Bring It Back” in 2020. This led to opening spots for heavy hitters in rock such as rock n roll hall of famer Sammy Hagar, Bay Area legends Y&T, Everclear, Slaughter, and many more. Red Voodoo is the youngest band to date to play the Monster Of Rock Cruise alongside Alice Cooper and Buckcherry. Now Red Voodoo has just wrapped up recording at the famous Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco working on their5 track EP with Grammy nominated producer Jaimeson Durr (Don Henley, Sammy Hagar, Nancy Wilson, etc....). Red Voodoo consist of lead singer and frontman Dino McCord, Lead Guitarist Davin Loiler, Bassist Andrew Edwards, and Drummer Andy Nathan, and is summed up best by former Van Halen vocalist, “RED VOODOO is a breath of fresh air in today’s pop culture of music. You can hear the influence of all the classic hard rock bands from the 70s and 80s with a young fresh twist.”

For Patricia Kaas' her sixth album Dans Ma Chair, she went to New York to work together with the successful producer Phil Ramone (Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Paul Simon), Lyle Lovett and, for the second time, James Taylor. With Taylor, she recorded the duet ""Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight"". Two singles from the album received silver status, ""Je voudrais la connaître"" and ""Quand j'ai peur de tout"". The latter was written by Diane Warren and later succesfully translated and covered by Sugababes as ""Too Lost in You"". The album went to #1 in Belgium and reached the Top 10 in Finland, French, Germany, and Switzerland. Dans Ma Chair is available as a limited edition of 1000(?) individually numbered copies on red coloured vinyl and includes an insert.

Je Te Dis Vous is Patricia Kaas' third studio album, which she released in 1993. After the huge success of her first two albums, Kaas turned to producer Robin Millar, who had worked with Sade and Fine Young Cannibals, for production at Pete Townshend's Eel Pie Studio in London. It established her status as an international star, selling three million copies in over 47 countries. The album features three tracks in English, including a cover of the James Brown song ""It's A Man's World"". Kaas was accompanied by Chris Rea on guitar on the tracks ""Out Of The Rain"" and ""Ceux Qui N'Ont Rien"". The album spawned two singles, including ""Il Me Dit Que Je Suis Belle"", which remains one of her most successful and popular tracks. Je Te Dis Vous is available as a limited edition of 1000(?) individually numbered copies on green coloured vinyl and includes an insert.

Philly heavy-weight OT The Real has been steadily building up his reputation in the game over the last few years, projects with Heatmakerz and DJ Green Lantern have been solidifying his name in the world of underground hip-hop, and this brand new collaboration with veteran Boston native producer Statik Selektah is yet another proof of his relentless work ethic and growth. Featuring guest appearances by Freeway, Merkules and Wallo among others, "Maxed Out" is yet another step up in OT's catalog, setting his path on the way up!

"The Proposal" is the collaboration full-length by Jersey City emcee Ransom and producer extraordinaire Statik Selektah. Originally released in 2013, the album features guest appearances by Styles P of The LOX, Termanology and Ea$y Money. This first ever vinyl release also features bonus track "Dollars & Sense" as well as brand new artwork by Luca Lacorte aka Blo/B.

* Vinyl bonus track

Following their ground breaking "Wet Dirt" album from 2019, CRIMEAPPLE and DJ Skizz are back to take you on a worldwide flight starting off in Hradec, Czech Republic. The New Jersey rapper and Brooklyn producer step up their game once again on this new offering, with CRIMEAPPLE solidifying yet one more time his position as one of the best lyricist out there, painting perfect pictures all by himself over Skizz's top-tier productions, with an extra soulful and vintage touch added to it. Fasten your seat belts as this one is yet another classic to listen up above the clouds!

Rising producer ODF makes his debut release for Shall Not Fade's bass driven sister label Time Is Now!

Rock With Me is five dancefloor driven, bass heavy anthems, dropping just in time for the UK festival season!

Rock With Me EP drops July 5th via Time Is Now.

Recorded in 1956 for producer Tom Wilson’s Boston-based label Transition Records, Byrd Blows On Beacon Hill presented trumpeter Donald Byrd in a relaxed and intimate quartet setting with Doug Watkins on bass along with Boston area musicians Ray Santisi on piano and Jim Zitano on drums. This mono Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe tip-on jacket with a booklet.

Two brand new tracks by The Courettes on RED coloured vinyl. The A-side will also feature on the band's next album! The B-side exclusive to this release! Both tracks feature guest vocals by La La Brooks of The Crystals! 'California' is a song we wrote on our first tour in California last year. We wanted to bring all the sunshine and some psychedelic vibes from The Byrds, the Laurel Canyon, and tons of 12-string guitars to our songwriting. But somehow the lyrics kept some black clouds. It talks about traveling and leaving your loved ones behind. Any musician on the road can relate to this. Although you can have a great time around the world, you're always missing someone. Home is really where your love is. We are very proud of this track, and on top of it we have a guest vocalist. The legendary singer La La Brooks - yes, from The Crystals, the lead voice on the classic 'Da Doo Ron Ron', one of our favourite Phil Spector produced songs of all time. To have La La singing with us is an absolute delight and honour. It's so surreal that we haven't even realised it has really happened! For the mixing our producer Soren Christensen has teamed up with the fantastic Darian Sahanaja (who produced and mixed no less than Brian Wilson's SMiLE album) to enlighten even more the Californian good vibrations. So open up your windows, let the sunshine in and play this one to the max!

Sheffield's hugely talented producer Hedge Maze lands on Selvamancer. Years in the making after a long search to decipher an unreleased tune from an unknown alter ego found online (title track Riding The Wave), we're excited to finally bring it to the masses. Morphed industrial violence, tearjerking post-dubstep-trap and the ruthless title track bounce off the walls. Let's commence! Face to the glass. "You use a mirror to see your face, you use a work of art to see your soul." G.B.Shaw... but if you stood with your breath appearing on the canvas what would you say to a Mane or a Rothko three inches away from it. As you push your nose up to the mirror of your soul, what to say to it in response. To listen to one's soul is to hear its depth, for it has many voices, but which voice to listen to. Fear be a man's best friend, he will accompany you should you wish. Forever on your coattails, a whisperer of half unseen truths: distorting perceptions. grief, illness, disappointment, pain, struggle, poverty, loss, terror, heartache, All to be feared. Yet, all features of a life lived! Courage then is simply to live and to live well, choose the voice that gives light. Throw the house out of the window so some say, throw yourself too, say I. Mark Warren. - written whilst listening to Strukku's Beat on Hedge Maze EP

As Klasse Wrecks enters the second chapter of our century of releases, we're happy to welcome the sounds and skills of Nicola Cruz to the roster. The Ecuadorian producer masterfully turns in a perfectly tuned handful of tracks for his 'Data Passenger' EP, the overiding soundscape being one of Electro, Breaks and infiniteless cosmic exploration.

Sonically the tracks are as much for the soles as they are the souls, a heady mix of intricate rhythms and vibrations await the listener and dancefloor. Plug in to the console let the soundwaves carry you across the spectrum.

Introducing NICE002 "Shoreline Circuitry" EP, the second release from All Nice Records, featuring the Portuguese producer Lake Haze. This EP will take you on a journey through pulsating house tracks, driven by 707 toms and hypnotic acid lines. "Dune District" kicks off with uplifting house vibes, distorted pads, and infectious rhythms. "Voltage Vortex" follows, offering a chill house groove with a heavy Chicago-inspired bassline. On the B-side, "Shoreline Circuitry" delivers rhythmic intensity with 707 toms and obscure acid lines. Closing the EP is "Electribe Echoes," a mesmerising track showcasing Lake Haze's sound mastery.

Incredible Techno and dub techno by now legendary Conforce (aka Versalife) that will Take You on a Sonic journey with Commute "Part 1" on Syncrophone. No need to introduce Conforce anymore... The Dutch producer blasts off with "Commuting Part 1," a 4-track EP on Syncrophone Records. Buckle up for a sonic adventure that electrifies your daily routine. "

DJ Support: Danny Howard, Annie Mac, Mistajam, Pete Tong, Charlie Hedges, Kraak & Smaak, Maxinne, Todd Terry, Alex Preston, Full Intention, GW Harrison, DJ Rae, Rudimental, Alaia & Gallo, Illyus & Barrientos, Johan S, David Penn, Sam Divine, Riva Starr, Claptone, Nice7, Dario D’Attis, Mousse T, S-Man, Huxley, KC Lights, Friend Within, Dombresky, Gorgon City, Chris Lake, Format:B, Pirupa, TCTS, Alan Fitzpatrick, Low Steppa, Mat.Joe, Raumakustik, Eskuche


Kicking things off on our next 4-track vinyl sampler series is Toolroom's very own Martin Ikin who returns to the label with ‘Make U Sweat’! He was the Best-selling Tech House artist on Beatport in 2020 and 2021 and has over 1m monthly listeners across streaming platforms. Recent studio collabs have included Noizu and Joshwa and tours have seen him travel far and wide to the US, Brazil, Bali, Ibiza, Italy, Croatia and of course, his hometown of London. This new record is the follow up to 'Oscill8' that dropped in March 2023 and sits in a similar lane, in that it's pure, unadulterated club weaponry! Next up is Italian house legend Flashmob with the frenetic, high-energy club vibe of new cut ‘My Body’. Flashmob's sound, production and go-for-broke DJ sets have changed with the game, embracing the vitality of new house music rather than hankering after sentimental sunsets. His ethic and aesthetic move relentlessly forward, using the old and new to craft unique sonic alchemy from big festivals like Tomorrowland to the intimacy of small clubs on the international circuit. ‘My Body’ is typical of Flashmob's current sound, combining solid drums and some insane synths and fx, alongside an earworm vocal sample that results in yet another memorable club cut from an established master. Canadian Tech House maestro Nathan Barato debuts on Toolroom kicking off the B-side to the vinyl alongside studio partner, Matheo Velez with 'Weapon'. A record that has already caught the attention of the underground elite with Michael Bibi premiering the track at his first appearance back at DC-10 in Ibiza last Summer. Both artists are enjoying great success across key labels such as Viva, Circus, Snatch and RAWthentic. This is an addictive, bumpy club track

that packs a huge punch on the dance floor and actually features Nathan's very own 'Move me… Rock me' vocals! Rounding things off is UK DJ/producer duo, Jenn Getz & Alfie who are residents at Dubai's #1 nightlife destination, Soho Garden, where they warm up for legends such as Sonny Fodera, MK, Claptone, Solardo & Fisher on a weekly basis. In their relatively short 3 year career they have already released on Solotoko, Abode and Toolroom Trax and now debut on Toolroom with 'Vibration'. Both girls are incredibly passionate about house music and are also big advocates for a life centered around well-being and meditation, and the idea of this record was to combine their 2 passions in life, so they proceeded to co-write these original lyrics to accompany the track, which in itself is very inspiring! This is a super cool club record that will excite fans and DJ's alike, welcome to the Toolroom Family, Jenn Getz & Alfie!

Countless radio plays on Radio 1 from Danny Howard, Sarah Storie, Pete Tong Other notable radio plays – Kiss FM, Toolroom Radio, Sirius XM, Data Transmission Radio, Radio 1 Dance Anthems, Radio 1 Party Anthems, Rinse FM, Select Radio, Tomorrowland Radio

7" reissue of Carlton Lewis' cover of The Whispers, originally left on Fashion Records in the 1980s.The flip side is a remix version by Japanese producer unit KH & The LASTTRAK.

Chapter Two/No Sleep is the successor of "A New Chapter" - the second Various Artists EP. This time onboard: Audio Units, talented producer duo from India, anonymous stunning techno Linear System and Tangram, a young techno DJ, Producer and Mastering Engineer based in Cologne. This EP is recommended to play on loud sound systems.

Re/United Records is a new venture created by international DJ and Music Producer Paolo Driver, with the collaborator and executive producer Kyko, and elite pianist and composer Alberto Bof.

Island Boogie arrives four years after Meecham’s previous full-length, Music Not Safari, and sees the veteran producer deliver his most ‘personal’ set yet – a collection of kaleidoscopic, cosmic-leaning, dub disco-influenced neo-boogie excursions inspired by his love of the custom-built soundsystem at Rotation Garden Party, an annual micro-festival founded by a group of friends including his former Chicken Lips production partner Dean Meredith. It's fitting, then, that the EP begins with a superb interpretation of ‘'Dévoilez-Vous’ by T-Kutt, AKA Meredith and long-term studio partner Ben Shenton. The pair’s ‘AM FM Club Mix’ sits somewhere between classic Prelude-style electrofunk, NYC proto-house and early British interpretations of American house music. Séverine Mouletin’s chopped-up improvised vocals weave in and out of sun-bright keyboard riffs, colourful synthesiser motifs, heady synth-strings, D-Train style synth-bass and delay-laden machine drums. It’s a superb re-imagination of one of the album’s most stellar moments.

The EP’s other headline-grabbing remix comes courtesy of Leng co-founder Paul Murphy AKA Mudd. He reworks title track ‘Island Boogie’, teasing out the spacey synths and languid jazz-funk grooves of Meecham’s original mix and dialling them up to the max. The resultant revision sparkles with crunchy clavinet licks, mazy synth and electric piano solos, and spacey chords rising above a mid-tempo dancefloor groove. To complete a strong package, Meecham adds two dubs in his distinctively stripped-back, tape echo-heavy style. He first takes on EP title track ‘Dévoilez-Vous’, wrapping vintage drum machine hits in oodles of space echo and dub delay while devoting more time and space to the killer bassline, Rupert Brown’s infectious hand percussion, and Mouletin’s vocalisations.

To round off the EP, he dubs out album epic ‘La Cassette’, another collaboration with Mouletin that also features additional percussion by Brown. Like the original synth-powered dancefloor dubs of the early-to-mid-80s that have long been an inspiration, Meecham’s ‘La Cassette’ dub features key musical elements – many drenched in trippy effects – popping in and out of the mix, while his sturdy drums and memorable bassline spar with Brown’s percussion below.

From the deep confines of the universe, we receive emissions of HC Records’ 21st release - Those Dark Whims by UHF, the production duo and Gladio Operations label heads José Castillo and David Aragón. An exciting digital LP from which a selection of tracks have been extracted for vinyl along with remixes by two label regulars, Estrato Aurora and The Lost Boys.

Skynet Was Shy opens both the LP and the vinyl, a hypnotic starting point in which the most vibrant and crystalline electro fuses with acid sequences to generate a state of pure trance, complimented and driven by spiralling sequences and mantra-like vocals. The second track on the LP and A2 on the vinyl is The Lost Boys' remix of Skynet Was Shy. A rough and sharp reinterpretation where the use of 303 sequences continues but focuses on more of a physical than a mental dance.

Hanging Baskets reactivates the state of infinite mental suspension that underlies this powerful and bold composition with deft and minimalistic use of elements: sharp broken rhythms, a dense melodic environment but with occasional moments of pure light and a new vocal message that ignites in our minds.

The B-side kicks off with Estrato Aurora's remix of Day Dream, which as usual in the work of the acclaimed Valencian producer, extends the original version to 8 minutes, giving it an unusual emotionality created by an amalgam of sound textures that interweave multiple pads, mutant melodies and pulsating percussion. Closing the vinyl, UHF's machines join forces with the lyrics of another electro heavyweight in Protestas En Las Redes Feat. Dark Vektor, a combative discourse in which the powerful and robotic vocal message of the Terrassan producer ascend alongside the futuristic melodies, extra-dimensional violins, spatial arpeggios, and metallic rhythms of the Madrid duo.

Born Samantha Owens in Liverpool, Jones began her recording career in The Vernon Girls, a female singing group affiliated with the Vernon Football Pools company; they created a popular Beatles tribute album in 1964 with producer Charles Blackwell, who launched Jones’ solo career that same year. Blackwell producer a debut solo LP for Ascot in 1968; two years later, Larry Page released sophomore set A Girl Named Sam, with Austrian wunderkind Mark Wirtz casting her in the broad realm of pop, though most of the songs describe romantic failures. The album thus has a tongue-in-cheek cover of Burt Bacharach’s “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” and credible renditions of Aretha’s “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman” and Jackie DeShannon’s “Put A Little Love In Your Heart.”

Limited green vinyl 180gr press with one bonus track for RSD 2020.

2025 Repress

Operation Sole like the summer, hopefully, imminent; “Operazione Sole” like the 1967 song by Peppino Di Capri, considered, perhaps wrongly, the first ska in Italy, but certainly the first to talk about Jamaica and upbeat rhythms.
The record you have in your hand is intended to be a testimony to how much the sounds born in Kingston between the '60s and '70s had a significant influence on local pop.
With the first explosion of reggae in England between 1968 and 1970, as well as with the rise of Bob Marley to a worldwide cult phenomenon, parallel to the all-English phenomenon of Two Tone and the ska revival, Italy, always attracted by the new trends not only English, he certainly couldn't stay on the sidelines.
Therefore these innovative and unknown upbeat sounds, derived from the blues of the 1950s and mixed with a Caribbean sauce, have also taken hold in the Bel Paese.
It began as early as 1959 with the song “Nessuno” by Mina, considered to all intents and purposes a Jamaican shuffle, to arrive in a few years at blue-beat (I4 di Lucca, Claudio Casavecchi) and ska (Margherita, Peppino Di Capri , Silvano Silvi, Renzo and Virginia) and be exposed to the first reggae (for example Jo Fedeli and his Italian version of “Israelites” by Desmond Dekker). Thus, we quickly reach the end of the decade of the economic boom and the culture, styles, references change: everything becomes more busy (on a cultural, artistic and political level).
After a stalemate phase that lasted more than five years, Bob Marley's reggae (considered a sort of new Messiah) conquers the planet, including Italy: the producers and artists, even at a high level, for a few years do not remain at all indifferent to this novelty and decide to introduce the "upbeat", primarily reggae, into the various pop repertoires: well-known names such as
Loredana Bertè, Mario Lavezzi, Rino Gaetano, Ivano Fossati, Ilona Staller, Adriano Celentano, Edoardo Bennato throw themselves headlong into new sonic adventures, in a pioneering way, but often with excellent results.
The "Operazione Sole" collection wants to take the credit, instead, of proposing and discovering lesser-known artists (with the exception of Gino Santercole, former associate and relative of Il Molleggiato), often real meteors in the Italian musical panorama, who have tried to achieve (or achieve again) success by adapting the pop that was so popular in those years to the new black sounds prevailing in the West.
We are in the early 80s and we range from the most classic reggae, to Italo-disco contaminated by dub up to the true Neapolitan style which, on more than one occasion, in its being endemically "black" and full of groove, has wrung out the watch out for agreements made in Kingston and London.
“Operation Sun”: a pleasant philological work, but surrounded by an equally pleasant aura of disengagement.

“Gun The Man Down ” by Dice The boss aka Pama Dice was first released in 1969 on the Trojan sublabel Joe with the track “Thief” by Joe Mansano on the B side. “Thief” is also reissued by us on a separate single dedicated to Joe Mansano.

“Your Boss DJ” was also released in 1969 on the Joe Label with the track “Read The News” by Joe All Stars on the flip.

Both titles are skinhead reggae classics that have never been reissued until now.

About Joe Mansano:

“Gun The Man Down ” and "Your Boss DJ" were both credited to Joe Mansano, real name Joel Mansano, who also produced the songs. Joel was a Trinidadian who moved to London in 1963. He was a record shop seller, song writer and producer and became heavily involved in the early reggae era producing and writing tracks for several Jamaican artists, enough for Trojan to dedicate a label to him: the “Joe” label aimed at the emerging Skinheads market. He also owned a shop the Joe's Record Centre in Brixton and recorded two handfuls of singles under the name Joe The boss…

About Dice The Boss/ Pama Dice:

Not much is known about Dice The Boss. His real name was Hopeton Reid and he was alternatively known as “Pama Dice”. But we know more about Pama Dice thanks to Gaz Mayall!

"Pama Dice was one of Prince Busters ‘no-shoes’ ‘Sunday school gang in west Kingston Jamaica. According to the Prince there wasn’t a car that Pama couldn’t nick. He used to nick the cars uptown with no shoes on & take them to the ghetto to teach the youth to drive. They were called the Sunday school or no-shoes gang as they were so poor that they only had one pair of shoes each & only wore them to church on Sundays. Pama Dice rose in the ranks to become one of Prince Busters main sound system DJs before emigrating to London in the late sixties where he MC’d for Duke Vin & recorded many great records for the UK/Jamaican booming new Reggae market in its infancy on the shoulders of the Bluebeat & Ska & Rock Steady music scene."

Source Gaz Mayall 27/2/2021

2024 Repress

Favorite Recordings presents Remixes by Voilaaa, a new EP built with exclusive versions of some of its biggest hits. Known for its Afro-Disco sound and strong dancefloor-friendly festive bangers, these new mixes bring another light to the successful project of Bruno "Patchworks" Hovart.

On A Side, Voilaaa asked famous Brooklyn-based producer and remixer JKriv (Razor-N-Tape) to provide even more club energy to "Ku La Foon (feat. Lass)”, originally released on Voilaaa's third and last album. The result is a powerful bomb that won't give any rest to the crowd.

The tracklist goes on with "Ben Bene La (feat. Lass)” reworked by Patchworks himself in a very Latin way, taking inspiration from the NY scene and its dancers, "Spanish Harlem" and Mongo Santamaria. You've got to play it loud and we're pretty sure you'll see some special moves on the dancefloor.

On B side, you'll hear another Patchworks remix, this time with probably one of Voilaaa's biggest hits, "Spies Are Watching Me (feat Sir Jean)”. In the footsteps of Moodymann, Masters At Work or the UK Garage scene, Patchworks delivers here some of his classic house music energy. You may know he started his career with house music: he transformed this anthem into a proper deep house cut with the same passion!

Finally, Voilaaa remixed himself! Working on "Tu Mens Devant Moi (feat. Ramatou Traore)”, Voilaaa carries the arrangement closer to the Angolese and Cape Verdean sound, reminding also the sound of Super Mama Djombo from Guinea Bissau. A tropical cut that will bring more and more sunshine to the club.

First ever reissue of this excellent self-titled South African jazz album by Spirits Rejoice.
Check out tracks like 'Woza Uzo Kudanisa Nathi' or 'Papa's Funk' !

The 1970s is regarded as a period of experimentation, boundary-breaking and hybridization in modern music and this spirit certainly informed the mushrooming of ideas that occurred in South African jazz during this time. In the shadow of more commercial township jive and soul, South African jazz evolved on the fringe, nurtured by passionate and enterprising independent producers who courted the interest of the mainstream with enchanting concoctions of jazz with folk, rock, soul and funk.

With a lineup hailing from far flung regions of South Africa, the mercurial sound of Spirits Rejoice and its willingness to weave a patchwork of different influences into its recordings is not hard to account for. More difficult to reconcile is that the band didn’t manage to level up to the status enjoyed by its peers in larger music markets abroad. Nevertheless, Spirits Rejoice has maintained its revered status in the collective memory of South African jazz for over four decades and their recorded artifacts return in the 2020s with the group’s vitality and energy undiminished.

Getting their start in the mid-1960s as a covers band, the Surrey-based group that began as The Late and who would be forced to take the name Unicorn mid-way through the recording of this excellent debut LP soon understood that originals made better sense, pointed in that direction by the success of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Given greater depth by Gerry Rafferty’s producer, Hugh Murphy, Uphill All The Way makes for superb listening, the musical craftsmanship yielding intricate textures beneath Ken Baker’s dreamy lyrics, the intelligent folk rock complete with country and western underpinnings. A must for UK folk rock fans!

The Belgian producer delivers emotion driven melodic soundscapes across three originals.

DIM KELLY returns to Lee Burridge’s All Day I Dream imprint to release his three track Homily EP. On the heels of three acclaimed EPs released on the label - Nocturna Animal in 2021, Mangrove in 2022, and Pianologic in 2023, in 2024 DIM KELLY is back once again, delivering his signature melodic sensibilities that have become a consistent fixture of the All Day I Dream catalog. When DIM KELLY recently performed at the All Day I Dream of Summer Shimmer party at the Brooklyn Mirage on June 2, unreleased tracks played from the Homily EP created some of the most unforgettable moments of the show.

Among the most famous husband-and-wife soul duos of all time, Ike & Tina Turner scored an incredible array of hits in the 1960s and 70s, before Tina finally exited the partnership. The debut LP on the Pompeii label, So Fine dates from 1968, a couple of years after a support slot on a Rolling Stones tour boosted their profiles; in addition to a remake of early hit ‘A Fool In Love,’ there’s an awesome take of Johnny Otis’ ‘So Fine’ and a competent rendition of ‘Shake A Tail Feather.’ Tina is fully in her element, the Ikettes keep up the harmonic pressure, and producer Ike handles the rest. Recommended listening for all soul fans!

Beginning in the mid-1960s as a covers band, the group that came to be Unicorn soon determined that original material was the way to go, and after being inspired by a Crosby, Stills and Nash album, their particular brand of enlightened folk rock tinged with country shades yielded a contract with Transatlantic for their 1971 debut. Fast forward to 1974 and Blue Pine Trees finds the band at their finest with sweeping harmonies and bluegrass tinges, and with Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour in the producer’s chair, all of their glorious potential is realised on this lost gem of an album that is fully ripe for rediscovery. A truly great work!