Cerca:tone 7

Oliver Dollar presents the ‘Contemporary’ LP on Rekids. The album features collaborations with producers and vocalists like ADMN, Seven Davis Jr., Brillstein, APROPOS, and more, releasing on 21st November 2025.

German House artist Oliver Dollar announces his ‘Contemporary’ LP on Rekids, arriving 21st November 2025. Since 2024, he has released four EPs on Radio Slave’s label, featuring collaborations with over a dozen artists and singer-songwriters, supported by the likes of Dam Swindle, Louie Vega, Honey Dijon, Hunee, Kai Alce, and more.

Since 2011, Industry Standard label boss Oliver Dollar has become a trusted name in House music, he was one of the leading proponents of its Fidget subgenre in Berlin at the height of its popularity, propelling him towards releases on labels such as Snatch!, Classic Music Company, and Defected, alongside a reputation as a formidable collaborator that’s worked with the likes of Crazy P, Mousse T, and Todd Edwards. For the ‘Contemporary’ LP, he doubles down on this spirit of partnership, bringing together a transatlantic cast of friends and peers, linking Berlin and Detroit through a shared House vision. The album begins with ‘The New Is Here’, where Oliver Dollar teams up with Nils Ohrman for a soulful sermon that sets the tone with warmth and gravity, which was previously reimagined into a club-focused dub for ‘Contemporary Part Four’. From there, the mood shifts into ‘Downtown’ with Phil WZK, a deep, Jazz-inflected groove underpinned by a spoken monologue that feels both intimate and eternal Vocalists like APROPOS, Boog Brown, and Billy Love then bring soul and gospel fire, while producers including ADMN, Seven Davis Jr., Harvard Bass, Brillstein, and Austin Ato shape grooves that range from Disco-tinged uplift to deep, dubby hypnotism. Rather than a showcase of features, the album flows as one unified statement, a celebration of community, connection, and the timeless energy of House music.

Founded in 2006, Radio Slave’s Rekids has since launched the Techno-focused Rekids Special Projects in 2017 and its latest sublabel, REK’D, in 2024. With Matt Edwards as the sole A&R, Rekids has been instrumental in developing emerging artists and remains a trusted home for House and adjacent sounds, recently featuring names such as Hilit Kolet, Tal Fussman, Frankey & Sandrino, Mathias Kaden, Huxley, and many more. Oliver Dollar’s ‘Contemporary’ LP on Rekids is a genuine team effort, bringing together some of the brightest voices and producers for a masterpiece that seamlessly blends modern and classic House, Dub, and Disco.

fter a series of long-form cassette releases on MAL Recordings, Berceuse Heroique, and his own Ideal State imprint, Samson A.K shifts focus to the club with Heavy Birds Drop - his first 12” EP. Mastered by Rainy Miller and pressed in a limited run of 150 copies, the record distills the grit and atmosphere of his tape work into a direct, floor-focused form.

Opening with the heaving distortion and low-end churn of Frog Bite, the EP moves through the fractured percussion of Forever Cold, then the hypnotic, deep-hours roll of the title track Heavy Birds Drop, before closing with Ballast, stripped back to skeletal dread and tense negative space. Across all four cuts, Samson A.K shapes a sound that is raw, functional, and uncompromising, setting the tone for the future of Ideal State.

Info: Slow-burn funk, tribal wrong-speed chug and a boogie-disco breaker — three floor-fillers that creep, groove and bounce.



A low & loose opening with a reworking of 'Night People' – with intro and outro stretched, drum breaks extended, and percussive overdubs layered - the EP sets the tone with a warm-up tool that fills a floor almost unnoticed at 98 BPM. From there, 'Lions' prowls as a 45rpm slowed down to a hypnotic, percussive workout laced with chants and tribal drive, closing with 'Breakin’, a rogue boogie–disco hybrid bursting with bongos and breakbeats: Absolute DJ fuel.

Hidden Traffic is the debut album by Hard To Tell via their own imprint, Vitrage Records. Spanning eight tracks, the album blends Detroit-influenced house, breakbeat textures, warm analog tones and subtle hypnotic techno nods. From the atmospheric opener Last Night Jam to the emotional closer Solid Love, Hidden Traffic showcases the full spectrum of the duo's sound - introspective, danceable, and deeply personal.

Demi Riquísimo reveals the latest EP on his Semi Delicious imprint No Given Time featuring collaborations with Tesselate founders The Trip, stalwart of East London's Queer scene Michelle Manetti and Belfast favourite Hammer.

With the signature Semi Delicious sound demonstrated throughout the package, the warm and groove-driven productions are designed with the dancefloor firmly in mind. Opening with the solo title track ‘No Given Time’, Demi sets the tone with lush synth work and lashings of 90s house flavour. Collaboration with The Trip ‘Infinite Room’ follows, with elastic basslines and an unmistakable blend of the artists’ sonic aesthetics, while ‘Only Love’ sees Demi team up with Michelle Manetti for a slice of joyous uplift with dreamy soundscapes. Closing out the EP is ‘Lime House’, in collaboration with Belfast’s Hammer, as the pair bring in prog-style chords and dizzying synths that take you well into the afterhours.

“Collaboration is important because it opens you to new ideas and thought processes while learning new tricks and techniques,” Demi explains. “It’s also a lovely way to bond and build relationships with other producers.”

Making his debut on Depth.Request, Duellist delivers Intensive Living - a fierce three-track statement inspired by the restless energy and chaos of modern city life. Reinforced by remixes from industrial heavyweights Orphx, Statiqbloom, and label co-founder G.xist, the EP captures the tension between control and collapse - where rhythm becomes ritual and distortion takes on a human pulse.
'Burn Your Way Out' opens with offbeat crunch and abrasive energy, setting a volatile tone. The title track 'Intensive Living' moves with rhythmic swagger and pounding drums, its momentum unwavering. 'Ritual Component' closes the originals with throbbing low-end pressure and hypnotic drive - the sound of machinery breathing.
On remix duty, Statiqbloom transforms 'Intensive Living' into a desolate, melodic descent, Orphx expand its framework into a widescreen rework charged with cinematic tension, and G.xist pushes 'Burn Your Way Out' into industrial hypnosis, fusing intensity and groove in equal measure.
Intensive Living stands as a hard-edged introduction to Duellist's world - precise, forceful, and fully alive in its urban grit.

One of the founding figures of Amsterdam's underground Techno culture Dimi Angelis has been shaping the scene in the late 90s, throwing warehouse raves living up to the underground standards. Until today his approach remains unchanged: uncompromising, opinionated, and never aimed at easy pleasing.
Drawing from decades of crate-digging and an encyclopedic knowledge of Techno's evolution, Dimi crafts sets that feel familiar a reveal unexpected depths on closer listening.
These tracks follow that same philosophy as they are straightforward and honest on the surface, but wrapped in something appropriately unexpected.

Kucera & Delayed Sentence Present the Analog Rhythms EP

Scrap & Delete continues its trajectory as a home for uncompromising techno with the Analog Rhythms EP. A collaborative release from Kucera and Delayed Sentence that merges their respective strengths into a tightly honed four-tracker of futuristic machine music.



Opening cut "Analog Rhythms" sets the tone with raw propulsion and hypnotic focus. Anchored by a driving low end and jagged synth pulses, it balances grit with surgical control. A track built for long blends and warehouse immersion.

"Between Networks" dials into a more kinetic space. Its interlaced groove patterns, off-axis drum programming and haunting vocal grooves create a feeling of constant shift, evoking unstable connections and digital interference while maintaining absolute floor impact.

On "Synthax," the duo lean into sci-fi atmospheres. Bleeding-edge textures swirl through a thickly percussive dancefloor orientated framework, creating a dark yet spacious momentum that's equal parts cerebral and physical.

Closing cut "Twisted Ankl3" is the EP's most unhinged moment. A wonky workout full of broken signal bursts and twitchy rhythmic grooves. It's a subtly evolving sequenced post-industrial DJ tool, leaving dancers disoriented and locked in.

With Analog Rhythms EP, Kucera and Delayed Sentence showcase a shared vision rooted in sonic discipline, hardware fluency, and unrelenting energy. This is high-functioning techno at its most distilled. A perfect fit for Scrap & Delete's refined catalogue.

Now a regular on the label, scene stalwart Chronicle continues his joyful journeythrough a landscape of dancefloor-friendly atmospherics.

A1 - Air Temple

Chronicle opens the EP with Air Temple, an immensely playful track with a superb 2-step hot pants break, programmed superbly with layers of depth generating anenergetic and immensely danceable tone, following the deliciously smooth late 90'sGLO-style intro. Lush female vocal samples perfect for the vibe are present and correctwhile micro melodies pan across the mix adding a wonderful texture.

A2 - Everblue

A delicately ominous intro with pads, whooshing samples and rustic synths precede adensely crafted slew of old-school analogue breakbeats laid in a subtle arrangement,bringing a blend of energy perfect for dancefloors and home listeners alike. Vocalsamples are programmed and twisted like instruments as Chronicle embarks on aspace odyssey with memorable melodies you'll keep discovering listen after listen.

AA1 - Encarta

Next up we have Encarta, which sets out intentions quickly in the introduction with abouncy, clean breakbeat which is quickly bolstered by a superb 2-step old school drumloop to create a pulsating energy. A myriad of samples are collected and fleckedthroughout the mix, while Chronicle's editing techniques mimic a skilled DJ cuttinganother break in and out to satisfying effect towards the back end of the main phases.

AA2 - Angular Momentum

Closing a diverse and uniquely atmospheric EP, Chronicle opens Angular Momentumwith a patchwork of synths and pads, ushering in a serene, simple high note melodyabove the driving breaks - detailed with distinctive cymbals that give the track's nameserious validity. With a slew of samples darting in both the foreground and backgroundfor the listener to enjoy, this is a piece which will live long in the memory.

Words by Chris Hayes (Spatial / Red Mist)

Figure is celebrating its 150th release with a loaded triple vinyl compilation, showcasing artists both old and new to the label – a testament to what the Figure sound is today. The cover art has been commissioned from Berlin-based graffiti artist Erik Winkler, whose spray-painted work is adorning the thick triple-pocket sleeve housing three colored records.

The compilation features some important recent additions to our growing roster: both Jancen and Arthur Robert deliver their unique take on tunneling techno, be it searing or psychedelic. And Brazilian shape-shifter Vinicius Honorio carves out his own gliding bass frequencies while A-STS relies classic drum machine bleep hypnosis.

Label head Len Faki’s own energetic appearance echoes his versatile style found on his recent album release. The all-out production featuring strings and quirky synths sits in contrast with Jeroen Search & Decoder - a pairing of veterans, whose minimal hardware sound slowly builds over trippy acid loops. The flipside belongs to a younger generation of producers, namely IGLO turning out a superb techno roller teeming with life and lush with details. The duo of Munich brothers Glaskin already remixed Faki for his Fusion album, their first original release on Figure comes a skillful blend of distorted stabs and deep grooves.

Equally refined but with a harder edge to it, Scheermann practices a dark, minimalist approach where each element gets time to shine for maximum effect. His bleak track is aptly paired with a rare solo release of Obscure Shape whose fractures of a dreamy, twinkly melody make for one of the most emotional moments of the compilation. The final side holds Roman Poncet’s seasoned understanding of groove, balancing perfectly the dubby stabs and vocal chops for a dazzlingly perfect loop. The final tones to this milestone release come courtesy of another of Figure’s bright new voices: Arkan manages to conjure up a powerful sense of progression, where colourful synths converge in harmonies over an effortlessly bouncing beat.

It is a rare moment for an independent label to make to number 150. But to keep finding new talent who help re-shape the signature sound while expanding the family roster, that’s a true blessing. This package shows how Figure is growing and adapting as a label, staying relevant as one of the leading voices in modern techno.

‘3' saw the core Lifted duo of Max D & Matt Papich unravel their visions of excess into their most divergent and wide-eyed collection to date. Presented here by Peak Oil in a vinyl edition featuring the painting of Jordan Kasey (yes, related to Martin Kasey, saxophonist on 2019’s LP 2) and packaged for a seamless listen.

First scene ‘Chefs’ places us squarely off-center, landing in a cinematic environment that feels a bit like steadycam Luis Bunuel , wine bottle whoo-ing and horn fanfare. Its music without a hard surface, defined more by its fluidity and characters, found sounds and performed dialogue. “Cymbecko” shifts gears into blissful ambient dub, and paves the way for a Luke Stewart led excursion into the uncanny that is ‘Trip Tongue’. Stewart’s upright bass never stops seeking, while Jordan GCZs Rhodes barely touches down before lifting back up into and out of Jacob Long’s (Earthen Sea, Esau) liquid tone sheets. An outside world of percussion accompanies.

The mood morphs and the scene cuts in hard with “Born in the Roof”, slacker techno that grows shimmering parts, Perlon for potheads. Voiceover slacks right with it, a half-convo caught in the billowing chorus of fx. “Macarena” snaps things into focus, working almost like an open window to airing out the heady fog. Simplicity in the vignette.

After “Mecha Perfume & Variety”, “Snow Dancing” reignites the drama, with burning guitar by Jonny Nash taking a plucky and sliding lead over wildly fused drums by Max D, we get a test of new depths for Lifted with the somber and exuberant “Whipped Cream”. Crackling like a radio but with modern propulsion in the form of richly evocative pads courtesy of Motion Graphics, it sounds like a dinner, a space trip, a storyboard, a scene, threaded together in bouncing, oblique ways.

"Bobby V" drops refreshingly, timed like a credit roll and leaving an afterglow that feels more tuned-in than ever.

Players on this album include: Luke Stewart (Irreversible Entanglements, Blacks Myths), Jeremy Hyman, Jonny Nash (Melody As Truth), Jordan GCZ, Matt Papich, Josh Levi, Mezey, Hirama, Dawit Eklund (1432 R), Motion Graphics, Max D, Jacob Long (Earthen Sea, Esau)




d 4.Born In The Roof Radio Mix
e 5.Macarena Radio Edit

MAIDEN is Laurine Frost's third instalment of the 'LENA' series - where the narrative conceptually revolves around the fictional musical journey of his imaginary daughter over the course of a series of albums. ‘MAIDEN' is deemed to be the most intense piece of the series yet, with the figure of the unstable, hesitant protagonist teetering between light and shadow. Dramatic depths and heights, often dark tones, composed chaos and rumbling polyrhythmia - somewhere far on the edge of jazz and rusty contemporary electronica.

*Mastered and cut by Stefan Betke at Scape Mastering

* 12” 180gr heavyweight vinyl, with printed inside-out cardboard cover

Berlin-based Amy Dabbs makes a long-awaited return to Shall Not Fade with Green Room EP - four uptempo club heaters spanning UKG, high-energy house, and breaks.

The EP’s title pays homage to Renate’s Green Room, the floor within the renowned Berlin club where Dabbs has held her residency since early 2023. Each track was both written for and road-tested at her monthly Dabbs Traxx events in this space, where she’s cultivated a tight-knit community of UKG lovers in the heart of Berlin.

“When I started writing this EP, my goal was to create music that would fit perfectly into my nights in the Green Room, bringing in the London sounds I grew up on, across all the genres I usually play at Renate. This EP is a tribute to everything Renate has given me: opportunity, community, and a platform for my authentic UK sound.”

Opening track Take Me High launches straight into peak-time territory, with old-school-inspired rave stabs, staccato vocal flicks, and deep, subby basslines. Over You turns the heat up even further - a track built from choppy vocals and UKG basslines before melting into a warm chord progression; a perfect example of Dabbs’ ability to fuse high-energy rhythms with spine-tingling emotion.

On the flip side, Style & Pattern, featuring the signature tones of London’s Alfie Fraser, is a pure UKG cut - underpinned by lush pads and arpeggiators, topped with Alfie’s unmistakable live vocals to create an uplifting dancefloor heater dripping with London swagger. Closing the EP, The Way delivers a tear-jerking breakbeat finale, layering syncopated percussion, emotive vocals, and an old-school piano breakdown; it’s a sublime end-of-the-night moment and a fitting closing track for an EP which honours one of Berlin’s most beloved clubs.

For our next physical release, FERMA welcomes back home one of the individuals running the project, Romphea. As a co-founder, he has long shaped the label’s uncompromising DIY ethos—placing experimentation, raw energy, and community at the heart of its vision. After releasing in a series of acclaimed platforms, the forward-thinking DJ and producer from Vyronas, Athens returns to vinyl with a genre-defying release. Building on the experimental pulse and reshaping the edge between electro, breaks and techno, Romphea continues that trajectory, weaving together tense polyrhythms, warped melodic fragments, and cavernous spaces.

This release features four, plus three digital bonus original tracks, aiming to provide a clear sound identity for the artist. The A-side opens with “Calls from Salem”, a dystopian slow burner that sets the tone with broken-beat percussion and dissonant synth stabs. “Steel Chair” surges forward with unrelenting force, propelled by serrated arpeggios and a barrage of fragmented vocals that rise and fall within the space, crafted for peak-time eruption.

Flipping to the B-side, “Paid Dividends” reaches full intensity, layering hammering kicks and percussion, while the low end rumbles with tectonic weight, amplifying the energy to fever pitch. Closing the record on a more contemplative note, “We Are The Universe” slows the pace, easing the tension and drifting into deeper territory. Echoing chords drift into space, layered with fragile percussive details and low, throbbing pulses. It’s a meditation on collapse and renewal, offering a moment of breath after the storm.

Straight from the source, defying the norms, devoted to the art. Do not sleep.

Die legendären und sich ständig weiterentwickelnden Zamrock-Pioniere WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc) verschieben mit ihrem neuen Album 'SOGOLO' weiterhin die Grenzen. Nach ihrem bemerkenswerten Comeback und dem von der Kritik gefeierten Zango von 2023 - ihrem ersten Album seit fast 40 Jahren - beweist 'SOGOLO', dass ihr innovativer Geist nach wie vor ungebrochen ist.

Abgeleitet vom sambischen Wort für 'Zukunft', verwebt 'SOGOLO' den von der Garage inspirierten Psych, Funk und Rock, den WITCH in ihrer Blütezeit in den 1970er Jahren buchstäblich miterfunden haben, mit dem experimentellen Geist des Augenblicks. Aufgenommen in Berlin während ihrer Welttournee, strotzt 'SOGOLO' vor Dringlichkeit, Aufregung und Entdeckungen, wie immer angetrieben von der magnetischen Präsenz des Frontmanns Emmanuel „Jagari“ Chanda.

Die Geschichte von WITCH ist fast zu außergewöhnlich, um sie zu glauben. Bekannt als die „Beatles von Sambia“, gründeten sie die Zamrock-Bewegung und veröffentlichten in den 70er und frühen 80er Jahren sieben Alben. Tragischerweise beendete die Aids-Epidemie die Zamrock-Ära und kostete allen Bandmitgliedern außer Jagari das Leben. Ihre Musik wurde 2012 wiederveröffentlicht und löste eine weltweite Wiederentdeckung aus, die zu ihrer triumphalen Rückkehr führte. Zango wurde von der New York Times in den höchsten Tönen gelobt, es gab ausverkaufte Welttourneen und einen preisgekrönten Dokumentarfilm, der weltweit ausgestrahlt wurde.

Mit 'SOGOLO' bestätigen WITCH, dass ihr kreatives Feuer noch immer brennt und beweisen, dass ihr Vermächtnis noch lange nicht zu Ende ist.

- Ltd. Col. LP: (Zamrock Dust (aka Opaque Natural) LP in einfacher Außenhülle und bedruckter Innenhülle)

It's been a long time coming, but finally the Berlin duo New Frames makes their debut onto PRSPCT Recordings with a powerful four-track EP: PRSPCT332

Built by Mathis Mootz (The Panacea) and David Frisch, New Frames have become a driving force in the darker corners of modern electronic music. Their sound pulls from the roots of techno-rave culture, from its earliest sparks to its current state, by fusing those classic sounds with completely new twists.

Their music blends the intensity of industrial and hardcore but by holding up the momentum of techno and drum & bass. This EP is the perfect example of genre-bending music, hard to keep in just one simple box, but held together by a focused, contemporary sound: Expect this EP to be tense, layered, and engineered with precision.
PRSPCT332 captures all of that energy in four heavy tracks:

A1 Mono Tone
A2 The Killing
B1 Moon 44
B2 The Masterpiece

Out at the end of November on vinyl and digital via PRSPCT Recordings.

New Frames show how it's done once again, proving that genre and BPM boundaries don't really exist.

Bread&Butter Records celebrates its 10th EP with a powerful statement from Romanian duo NTFO, a name synonymous with precision minimalism and timeless groove. The release unfolds across four masterfully produced tracks, each one engineered for those moments when the dancefloor turns into something deeper, heavier, and unforgettable.

Calibre sets the tone in classic NTFO fashion. Its stripped-bacb bassline rolls with hypnotic intent, carrying just enough weight to lock the floor in. By the three-minute mark, subtle shifts into a trance-like state, gently elevating the room into waves of euphoric release. It’s understated yet devastatingly effective, the type of cut that DJs treasure for its power to transform the atmosphere without ever shouting too loud.

Electr pares things back even further, pushing into pure minimal territory. Built on a sleek harmonic groove, it’s a masterclass in restraint, every sound feels perfectly placed, every movement precise. This is a track that thrives in the early hours, where tension, patience and subtle shifts in rhythm rule the floor.

Forap flips the script, injecting an upbeat energy that hits with instant impact. Around the three-to-four minute mark, a vocal element cuts through, commanding attention before the groove locks back in with unstoppable momentum. Hypnotic yet uplifting, it’s the perfect peak-time tool a track that lifts the room into a collective high, as though flying on pure feeling.

Nanomos closes the EP with finesse. A deeper, darker exploration, it glides through murky textures and intricate percussive details, carrying an otherworldly atmosphere that keeps the listener suspended in motion. It’s a slow-burner that lingers long after the last note fades, a testament to NTFO’s ability to balance groove and emotion in equal measure.

With this release, Bread&Butter not only cements its reputation as one of London’s most exciting underground imprints but also showcases NTFO at their most refined. Four cuts, four moods, all bound by that unmistakable Romanian touch that continues to set standards worldwide.

On a "Balearic-Jazz trip", the phenomenally hyped Thought Leadership returns with another X ideas: the deck this time chooses the Ace of Swords. In the acclaim garnered by III of Pentacles, there were many whispers of “Balearic” from those in the know. As soon as you drop the needle on XI you will be basking in turbo Balearica.

Originally out on cassette only, we present the first ever vinyl issue. It's a hideously limited pressing of 300 for the world, so don't sleep on this.

The sonic palate has been augmented by the addition of synth and bass; there are more guitar layers, more pedals and more organic drums this time – a much fuller production. Still DIY, and still recorded straight to multitrack, just ever so slightly grander in scale; think a rough-hewn, long-lost Claremont 56 cut and you’ll have some idea of how XI opens this future classic LP.

The touchstones so key to the vision of Pentacles (Cocteau Twins, Dif Juz, Durutti Column) are all still present and correct; XII could be a piece from Extractions, XIII is pure Garlands-era Guthrie and, now with the shuffling jazz drums, XV makes TL even more LC – but more disparate influences are found this time out too. ECM guitar legends John Abercrombie and Pat Metheny in the more considered melodic phrasing and harmonic structure of the ideas and a nod to the cosmic Balearic spirit in the overall vibe, means more is offered to the listener across Swords.

XVI and XVII are the biggest indicators to Thought Leaderships’ new found love of The Real Book and their grasp of jazz chords. The former sounds like if Mike Hedges had produced on a heavily sedated ECM date in the early 80s, whilst the latter is Bright Size Life condensed into a most post-punk shard of Strat conversation. The syrupy Phase 90 on the lead parts lends much weight to the guitar melodies, a beautiful tonal counterpoint to the Vox-ish chimes of the plangent chords we’ve all come to love.

The flip again treats us to three extended, improvised jams. XVIII owes as much to Canterbury as it does to Krautrock, another modal voyage through the stars. Light the incense and drift away, guided by delayed cymbals and weaving ribbons of guitar. XIX has almost a New-Wave/Sophisti-Pop energy to it in tone, if not in structure and execution. Something almost Tears for Fears-esque in the chiming chorus guitars. An interesting outlier that has already received a lot of love from those that have heard it. XX is the starkest idea, and the only piece this time with no drums. What we do get, however, is a free exploration over a two chord-vamp. It’s Harvest Time meets Planet Caravan and a fitting end to this Balearic jazz trip.

Be With is honoured to present the first ever vinyl release of Ace Of Swords, carefully remastered by Be With's engineer Simon Francis to ensure it sounds better than ever after its initial tape release. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut at Abbey Road Studios whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry, in Holland. The original tape cover artwork, so crucial to Thought Leadership's striking visual aesthetic, has been rejigged for vinyl issue here at Be With.

The last one flew. You have been warned.

Making this album was an absolute joy. We used Rothko’s artwork as a major influence. His use of colour fields, blending, mood and scale really helped us build an album of tracks that could stand on their own and also work together as a coherent whole across all the tones we had been working with. It was also a chance to fall back in love with our 909, 808 and 707.

While working on music for several other projects, the “Rothko” project got renamed Loud Ambient because it did not really sit right with the My Brutal Life series. We often talked about what people make of The Black Dog and whether they think we only make ambient music. We do not. Over the last year or so, one of us would be working on something and someone else would say, “That is a Loud Ambient track.” The name stuck. We liked the funny side of it.

With Loud Ambient, everything just fell into place creatively. Surprisingly for us, the tracklisting never changed, just small tweaks here and there. That rarely happens. It marks a first for us as a band. All the stars aligned and the confidence in this album is the strongest we have ever had.

Loud Ambient was made to dance to, something we have not done in a while. We welcome the return to the dancefloor with both hands. Will you join us?

When people think of Yacht Rock-those smooth, sun-drenched sounds that once drifted from Californian radio stations in the late '70s and early '80s-they rarely imagine it echoing through rehearsal rooms in Hamburg or Linz. Yet even far from the Pacific coastline, the appeal of shimmering chords, laid-back grooves, and polished production found fertile ground.
This compilation gathers rare and overlooked tracks from Germany and Austria. These artists embraced West Coast aesthetics with sincerity and subtle twists, resulting in music that feels both familiar and refreshingly new-smooth sounds for cloudy skies. So drop anchor, pour something cool, and enjoy this unexpected cruise through the lesser-charted waters of Euro Yacht Rock.

Our journey begins in Austria, where Reflection's Because (1981) set the tone with blue-eyed soul and analogue warmth-a sunlit blend of Doobie Brothers polish and local charm. Its creator, Dieter Heyduk, reappears with Austrian Sky, a heartfelt nod to his homeland that fuses mountain calm with oceanic longing.
From the North Sea island of Föhr, Ara Pacis dreamed of California on their 1979 self-release To the Westcoast. Inspired by Steely Dan and Lake, they turned German rock precision into breezy, melodic sophistication. Meanwhile, in Düsseldorf, Mainpoint fused funk and jazz-rock on Frisbee, their 1980 single bursting with rhythmic drive and optimism before the tide of the Neue Deutsche Welle swept such grooves aside.
Bremerhaven's Nuages offered the compilation's only instrumental gem, Strange Weekend (1985)-a gentle blend of jazz-funk and rock and largely lost to time. Its cool restraint captures the European interpretation of Californian ease.
Around the same period, British traveler Gavin James recorded River of Laughter in southern Germany, backed by the blues-rock band Black Cat Bone. His acoustic reflections on water and flow mirrored the soft, meditative pulse at Yacht Rock's core.
Berlin's Top Spin kept things playful with Bikin (1985), a funk-fusion snapshot of urban joy that showcased the city's finest session players. From the Ruhr area, the Jan Pack Band is up next. While not a typical Yacht Rock track, Cable Dance is driven by an effortless, groovy '80s vibe.
Peter Seiler's Goldfinger project reimagined Walkin' in the Sand as a relaxed reggae-tinged track, while Munich's Major Seven closed the voyage with Silverboat, a wistful soft rock ballad gliding between melancholy and light.

Across these hidden harbors of German and Austrian pop, the West Coast dream took on new forms-reflected in rivers, skies, and studio lights half a world away from L.A. Under and Above the Clouds celebrates that spirit: the enduring pull of smooth music, wherever it's made.

The seventh release in the Punctuality canon lands hot with a peak-time four-tracker from Persian-Swedish DJ and producer Mohajer based in Berlin. All In is a bold statement of intent—the music glistens with sleek, modern production aesthetics, drawing from UK-tinged breaks, pumping ’90s house, and sultry, timeless trance moods, perfect for big rigs and intimate dancefloors alike. Like her DJ sets, the tracks are scintillating and high-throttle, twisting and turning through unexpected paths while maintaining a steady dancefloor focus throughout.
“Intake” sets the tone for the EP. The A1 is a high-octane collage of lustrous, contemporary house, where playful, bouncy low-end slips and skips around glitched-out atmospherics, sleazy tech synths, and earworm organs. The arrangement careens and veers without relenting, driven by pumping amens and provocative vox chops fluttering in and around the bass.

A2, “i c u” keeps things heated with rolling breaks and ultrabright melodies that ignite the track with dazzling intensity. A sultry take on UK soundsystem music, its undulating wubs and flirtatious vocals are anchored by a dub sensibility that keeps the groove low, slung, and sexy. Think smoke machines, red lights, and smoldering sexual tension.
Luscious, trancey, and dripping with percussive sensuality, “You Wannabe” carries the sensuous mood to the flip. The track unfolds like the arc of a DJ set, teasing moments of magic amid layers of atmospheric pads, FX, and a pulsing bassline that grounds the arrangement from start to finish. The vibe is sweltering, cosmic, and irresistibly sultry—drawing from many directions but always locked into the groove, built for DJs and dancers alike.
The EP closes with “Backseat,” a hypnotic journey through swirling synthetic flourishes, rumbling subs, and psyched-up lead lines. It expertly builds tension and release, flipping halfway into bright flashes of euphoria and light. The result: a mysterious, sensual number that captures the ephemeral magic of the dancefloor and showcases the expert production skills of Mohajer.

This is buy-on-sight material from start to finish—don’t sleep.

E23 Records is an independent label from Amersfoort that releases music moving between electro, wave, EBM, and acid—sounds that feel familiar, but not quite at ease. Each release is built with care, made to be both an object to collect and a small joke at the universe’s expense. Patterns appear where they want to, chance plays its role, and sometimes the numbers line up in ways that feel more than coincidental. Tune in, and see what reveals itself.

E23 Records launches its catalog with three dark electro transmissions from Amersfoort residents Son of 8-Bits, Mavanov, and Law Of Fives. Opening with Son of 8-Bits’ “Deliverance”, the record sets an ominous tone: heavy bass pressure and sharp machine rhythms push forward with a cold, driving pulse built for late hours. Mavanov’s “Dark Romanticism” drifts into sparse, hypnotic territory, where cold mechanics meet faint traces of emotion. Law of Fives’ “Primer” closes the trip with an urgent workout that turns rhythm into a labyrinth—metallic strikes, pulsing bass, and restless sequences coiling together, building toward moments where chaos threatens to take over but never quite does.

Together, the three cuts form a statement of intent: E001 is moody, uncompromising electro with just enough strangeness to keep the floor on edge. A first chapter that hints at many more signals to come.

Gladio Operations continues its expansion into the electro universe and, with this fourteenth release, lands in Viking lands, giving Danish producer Martin Stoffregen his debut on the label.

This artist, who releases his work under the alias Krypton 81, is no stranger to the scene, having released on major labels such as Bass Agenda and Mars Frequency, among others.

On this EP, entitled “Quantum Entanglement”, we sense a breath of fresh air in its three original tracks, which are refined and elegant. With strong sequences and adorned with sublime textures, we encounter “Binary Encoding”, the track that opens the EP and shows us the way to “Particle Proximity” and “Quantum Computing”. These two Kraftwerk-flavoured tracks are imbued with captivating melodies and subtle vocals, transporting us to an infinite emotional state of continuous well-being.

This EP is reinforced with two heavyweight remixes. The first is by producer Univac, who returns to the label and gives us his particular vision of “Binary Encoding”, once again showcasing his unmistakable and classic industrial sound, dark and emotive. The second remix is by German producer Vertical67, who gives “Quantum Computing” more hypnotic tones than the original

In the mid-90s, Ken Ishii rose to prominence, with a futuristic sound rooted in Detroit’s machine soul yet unmistakably his own. Hailing from Sapporo, Ishii quickly became synonymous with futuristic, cutting-edge productions, and ‘Jelly Tones’ – originally released on R&S Records in 1995 - was the breakthrough release that propelled the Japanese producer to global notoriety.



Driven by the success of its lead single ‘Extra’, whose iconic and surreal, anime styled video directed by Koji Morimoto (of Akira fame) became a cult classic - the album cemented Ishii’s status as a pioneer who seamlessly fused Detroit techno influences with forward looking sound design and uniquely Eastern melodic sensibilities.



Now reissued on vinyl for the first time since 2008, this 30-year anniversary edition of ‘Jelly Tones’, celebrates the album’s lasting legacy and continued influence with the dynamic rhythms, crystalline synth textures, and sophisticated arrangements that set Ishii apart - from the propulsive elegance of ‘Stretch’ and the layered complexity of ‘Pause in Herbs’, to the tribal, otherworldly darkness of ‘Moved By Air’ and the lush close of ‘Endless Season’.



Integral to this collection as well as the dazzling energy of tracks like ‘Extra’, comes the shimmering synthscapes of ‘Cocoa Mousse’, and the intricate futurism of ‘Pneuma’ - all of which highlight Ishii’s masterful command of both the dancefloor and more cerebral electronic spaces. ‘Jelly Tones’ remains a testament to Ken Ishii’s vision and to a moment when techno became a global language.

Matching brooding, tense undercurrents of drone with strained soulfulness, Malcolm Pardon makes a notable shift in his creative approach on his third album.

Leaving his piano behind, the Stockholm-based artist explores the richly varied tones lingering in the background of his past compositions.

Born from his extended live improvisation for Gustaf Broms’ Köttinspektionen exhibition in Uppsala, Flesh & Bonesbecomes a haunting suite of compositions focused on texture and spatial processing, mixed by longtime collaborators Aasthma (Peder Mannerfelt & Pär Grindvik). From Hidden Path’s cavernous wells of low-frequency tone to Under Over’s sustained synth blooms, and the woozy two-chord refrain of Speaking In Tongues, Pardon's seasoned approach to dramatic scene-setting leads his music into its own captivating, compelling sphere, where emotions entwine and conjure strange new plains of expression.

Two years after making their bow via a fine contribution to the Claremont Editions 3 compilation, Nuremberg’s Neumayer Station are ready to drop their debut full-length excursion, the mesmerising and immersive Crossings.

The brainchild of drummer-turned-producer Michael Kargel, a musician with a bulging CV that includes stints in various German indie-pop and rockabilly bands, Crossings was co-produced and mixed by Frank Mollena (best known to Claremont 56 fans as the man behind the Fürsattl and Bambi Davidson projects), with additional contributions by Alexander Sticht and an impressive roll call of guest musicians plucked from Nuremberg’s vibrant musical underground.

Recorded at different points over the last three years, the eight tracks showcased on Neumayer Station’s inspired debut album draw influence from the hypnotism of classic German ‘kosmische’ recordings, the freewheeling and stoned headiness of CAN, and the gently unfurling beauty of sun soaked Balearica. Kargel, Mollena and their collaborators set the tone with opener ‘Unterführung’, where Sticht’s layered and sonically hazy vocalisations rise above space-rock guitar motifs, droning analogue synth sounds, languid bass and slow-motion drum breaks. With effects aplenty and all manner of melodic electronic flourishes, it’s a deeply psychedelic and mind-expanding affair.

‘Nalut’ follows, with Kargel’s own atmospheric howls and whistles cannily combining with sun-bright tropical guitars, echoing chords and delay-laden saxophone solos riding the dub-flecked, low-slung groove. The collective’s Balearic influences are explored in more sonic detail on ‘A Gentle Flow’, a shuffling and soft-focus affair marked out by emotive piano & jazz guitar, brushed percussion, sunrise-ready synths and pleasingly stretched-out electronic textures. Neumayer Station return to this drifting, morning-fresh and eyes-closed sound later in the LP, via the wonderous ‘Von der Morgenröte’.

The heady influence of spaced-out dub production techniques comes to the fore on ‘Bassrutscher’, an Alexander Sticht co-production rich in Americana-influenced guitar textures, metronomic dub bass, rim-shot heavy drums, mazy organ and orange-hued sundown sounds. It ushers in the more up-tempo shuffle of ‘Zielgerade’, an inner space, out-of-mind affair whose driving but loose-limbed groove provides a platform for exotic, droning and otherworldly guitar, sax and synth sounds. As with all great albums, Crossings gently builds towards a triumphant and memorable conclusion. The spacey Balearic/kosmische crossover of ‘Feeling Forst’, where darting intergalactic synth sounds rub shoulders with gentle acoustic guitars in a hallucinatory soundscape, tees up closing cut ‘Crossings’, the krautrock-rooted, sax-sporting slab of enveloping late-night beauty that first introduced listeners to Neumayer Station back in 2023. It’s a fitting conclusion to a staggeringly good debut album.

The 12th release on ALIM Music, Brazilian singer-songwriter Rogê delivers a radiant and rhythmically rich reinterpretation of Talking Heads’ “Road to Nowhere,” setting the tone for BBE's Naive Melodies - a bold and visionary tribute to the music of Talking Heads, reinterpreted through the lens of Black musical innovation. Curated by Drew McFadden - the creative mind behind BBE’s acclaimed Modern Love (David Bowie tribute album) releasing this October via BBE Music. Now based in Los Angeles, Rogê, a Latin Grammy nominee and longtime torchbearer of Rio’s samba-soul vanguard - reimagines the Talking Heads classic as a soulful samba jam, infused with earthy guitar, syncopated percussion, and his signature smoky, magnetic vocals. Where the original rides on quirky tension, Rogê’s version flows with saudade and sway, steeped in the Afro-Brazilian traditions that have defined his sound for over a decade.

Produced by Tommy Brenneck (Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Cuco, Charles Bradley, The Budos Band), the track carries a raw, analog warmth that nods to classic MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) and the golden age of 1970s samba-rock, while subtly weaving in the existential overtones of the song’s lyrics. Rogê's “Road to Nowhere” captures the essence of Naive Melodies: a reimagining of Talking Heads’ catalog through the rhythmic and cultural lens of the global Black music traditions that helped shape it. From samba and funk to soul, dub and jazz, the album brings together forward-thinking artists from across the diaspora to revisit, reinterpret, and revive the sounds that have always lived in the band’s DNA.

Australian producer Inkswel is back on the Cosmocities label in France with more of his superbly soulful sounds, this time with none other than Chicago legend Robert Owens. The lush 'Space Love' is a playful deep house jam with the sort of cosmic synths that recall early Fingers Inc and Owens's smoky tones only heighten that feeling. Steve Spacek provides a mix that rides on broken beats with elastic bass but just as much cosmic energy and a Fluterumental gets all loose-limbed and seductive. On the flip side are two Yoruba Soul mixes that bring extra rich soul vibes and shimmering pad work. A classy and timeless EP for sure.

Re-Issued and Re-Mastered by Beau @247. Back with the original and the remix on one slab of black crack.
FBD Project rolling out the musical side of early drum and bass / jungle. The original is a pure chop-age fest, with poly-rhythm breaks rolling over 808 tones and luscious melodies... buy it an enjoy listening to the ever changing rolls and break programming.

Flip to the B-side and check out Neil Trix's revisited version. Stepping it up with an AMEN roller that just glides and rolls without the need for any long breakdown. FBD Project bang at it again.

BLIS701 by Chain Selector is a carefully honed two-track release from BLACKINSTOCK Records, a division of MixCult Records, showcasing Chain Selector’s mastery in blending emotional depth with atmospheric finesse. Designed for those who appreciate subtlety and sonic craft, this release moves between introspective melodies and immersive dub textures with remarkable control.

On Side A, School Days is a tender and timeless composition—melodic, cinematic, and evocative. It gently stirs memory and emotion, creating a world where every sound breathes with intent. On the flip, Autumn Guide opens a more shadowed dimension. Built on layered tension and low-end pulses, it introduces a restrained, dub-heavy soundscape ideal for setting the tone of a deeper set.
With BLIS701, Chain Selector delivers a refined double-sided vinyl, one to reflect, one to explore. Both tracks stand as elegant tools for shaping atmosphere with poise and intention.

Limited 7" Edition

Danou P Serves Up Deep, Funky Heat with his 'In The Brine EP' on Definitive Recordings.

Rotterdam-based producer and DJ Danou P delivers a standout four-tracker with 'In The Brine EP,' released on Definitive Recordings. Known for his warm, soulful and funk-infused take on house music, Danou channels raw rhythm and musical flair into a collection that feels both classic and freshly personal.

Opening track 'The Flex' sets the tone with stomping deep house drums, playful chord stabs, and clever vocal sample play that gives it a raw, jacking feel. It's got attitude and groove in equal measure. 'On My Own' keeps things rolling with a classic deep house bassline, gradually introducing a soulful vocal loop that blossoms with the arrival of shimmering synth layers. Danou brings emotion without ever losing grip of the dancefloor.

Next comes 'Spirit', flipping the rhythm into broken beat territory. Another catchy vocal sample rides alongside vibey, jazzy stabs, offering a breezy, uplifting moment that's both heady and driving. It's the kind of track that sneaks into your set and ends up stealing the show. Rounding out the release is 'Bronstige Bakvissen', a deep and moody closer built on a heavy, rolling groove and rich classic house chords. It's stripped back but full of warmth, closing the EP with a nod to soulful late-night sessions.

Best known for his work alongside Jamie 3:26, and with releases on Glitterbox, Tru Thoughts, and Soulfuric Trax, Danou P is steadily building a solo catalogue that's as musical as it is danceable. His 'InThe Brine EP' is a bold step forward, out on Definitive on July 25th 2025.

Aitcher Clark steps out from his work as one half of LOFN (Veyl, 2021) with a first solo long-player that draws a sharp line between the club and the cinema.
The 6-track LP moves with intent across ambient space, industrial techno frameworks, and restrained neoclassical harmony. It favors patience over peaks, detail over spectacle, and a narrative arc that rewards a
start-to-finish listen.
The campaign begins September 19th with the lead single “Improperly Planned Experience”, an industrialleaning cut driven by a relentless drum pattern and an eerie, immersive atmosphere. Stark and physical, it sets the tone for the album with its focus on tension, texture, and shadow rather than melody. On the same day, Clark will debut a new live and visual show at Lunchmeat Festival in Prague in collaboration with visual artist OXOO, translating the record into an immersive set where sound design and reactive visuals lock to the micro-gestures that run through the album. The performance is built around custom stems, live resampling, and dynamic lighting cues that mirror the music’s push and pull.
Across the LP, Clark threads field-recorded texture with precision drum programming and layered harmonies, avoiding predictable drops in favor of pressure that accumulates over time. The palette is cool and tactile: detuned pads, clipped low-end, and percussive details at the edge of audibility. Moments of clarity, strings, voice-like synths, negative space, arrive as structural markers rather than ornaments.
For Veyl, the album sits comfortably within a catalog that values forward motion and atmosphere, while opening a more composition-driven lane. For listeners who followed LOFN’s 2021 release, this solo debut widens the frame: less collaborative call-and-response, more solitary architecture, with the same focus on tension and timbre. The live show with OXOO extends that idea beyond the record, using visual rhythm and color to render the music’s internal logic in real time.

The album that launched a thousand heavy-hearted singer-songwriters on their not-so-merry way, Sweet Baby James was arguably the first shot in what became the soft revolution of the early '70s. Taylor struck commercial gold with Sweet Baby James by augmenting his acoustic guitar and soothing vocals with laid-back accompaniment and penning a slew of songs that drew upon folk, soul, and rock influences. Musically mellow and lyrically restive, it put Taylor in the Top 10 and set the tone for a popular school of '70s sound.

FreedomB Delivers Timeless Groove on 'Essence Of Soul EP'. FreedomB is an artist defined by groove and movement rather than place. Drawing influence from jazz, funk, soul, and the earliest house and electronic rhythms, his sound is rooted in timeless dance music traditions and built for long, immersive nights on the floor. Focused on rhythm, flow, and emotional energy, FreedomB's productions exist to make people dance without compromise. With releases on labels such as Knee Deep In Sound, Roush, Toolroom, Sola, ElRow Music, and Flashmob Records, FreedomB has earned support from leading names including Hot Since 82, Supernova, Hector Couto, Solardo, and Flashmob. Now joining the Definitive Recordings catalogue, FreedomB presents 'Essence Of Soul EP', a two-track release that captures his deep-rooted love for classic house, disco, and soulful dancefloor energy. On 'Mi House Es Tu House', FreedomB delivers pure house nostalgia. A groovy beat and subtle bassline form the foundation, joined by classic piano chords that immediately set the tone. As the track unfolds, disco samples, a 90s-style synth melody, and a soulful female vocal sample build toward a powerful breakdown before dropping back into full groove, introducing a second timeless house synth theme. It's uplifting, energetic, and perfectly designed for any house music dancefloor. The title track 'Essence Of Soul' shifts into a deeper, more disco-infused direction. A straighter, nu-disco- inspired rhythm sets the pace while layered synths evolve throughout the arrangement. An 80s-style bassline anchors the groove, accompanied by filtered vocal chants, disco effects, and a spoken-word vocal reflecting on the meaning of music and the dancefloor. As the track progresses, rich piano chords and classic high house strings lift the energy into an emotional, late-night crescendo. 'Essence Of Soul EP' is a celebration of groove, soul, and timeless house energy. A release that lets the music speak and invites you to dance.

Originally from Sicily but living in Basel, electronic composer Marco Papiro confirms his eccentric and multifaceted personality. The sound articulation of his analog synthesizers flows into in an artificial hyperrealism of great thematic and expressive variation. The tracks unfold between ascending cosmic moments, more ecstatic meditative tones, symphonic planetary floods, exotic afrodelic and psycho-andean drifts. Papiro synthesises and converts echoes of acoustic wind instruments (oboe, recorders, bamboo flute), while the percussion lives on its own pulsating reality. The influence of certain folk traditions, as well as contemporary music, also suggests the more acoustic flavor of an ethereal minimalism (for voice and psaltery), making his music a continuous open sea of visions. Cover painting by Anton Bruhin printed on two different colored papers. Co-released with Les Giants.

Looking back on her career in the early 90s, Stevie Nicks described the first track of Rock a Little as “the most exciting song that I had ever heard.” This coming from a superstar who was already closely affiliated with several bajillion-selling Fleetwood Mac albums — to say nothing of her own benchmark solo debut. Her remarks attest to the enthusiasm and effort she invested in her third record, a 1985 work that quickly furthered Nicks’ profile and cemented itself as a piece of 80s pop lore.

Mastered at MoFi’s California studio, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, strictly limited to 4,000 numbered copies, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45RPM 2LP set presents Rock a Little in audiophile sound for its 40th anniversary. Helmed by a cadre of producers and engineers, and recorded for a reported one million dollars, the platinum-certified album teems with a head-spinning array of colors, tones, dreamscapes, and accents. This reference-grade reissue marks the first time they are all brought to light and conveyed with proper balance, dimensionality, and positioning.

Though Rock a Little doubtlessly has period characteristics of a mid-80s LP, Nicks and company spare no expense when it comes to distinguishing the music with expansive sonics distinguished with lush melodies, high-tech percussion, echoing vocals, sampled keyboards, and layers of sophisticated accents. The degrees of spaciousness, headroom, and dynamics are nothing less than inspiring, while the newly enhanced detail, texture, and clarity make the songs sing like never before. As for Nicks’ voice? Wait ’til you experience the transparency and depth.

Those advantages extend, of course, to the aforementioned “I Can’t Wait,” a statement-making opener shot through with modulating synthesizers, splashy drums, metallic guitars, and serious drama. Holed up in a massive studio, Nicks required just one take to nail her part, which she called “magic and simply not able to beat.” The singer-songwriter also distilled the reverberating emotional essence of the Top 20 tune, stating “when I hear it on the radio, this incredible feeling comes over me, like something really incredible is about to happen.”

The same can be said for nearly all of Rock a Little. Crafted by the likes of Songwriters Hall of Fame multi-instrumentalist/producer Rick Nowels, Heartbreakers organist Benmont Tench, bassist Bob Glaub, jack-of-all-trades Greg Phillinganes, and session-pro guitarists Waddy Watchel, Les Dudek, and Danny Kortchmar — along with another two dozen or so participants — the record spills with diverse ideas, shapes, and moods. Everything is in the right place, as evidenced by the swirling glide and sensual undertow of the slightly funky title track to the snapping rhythmic pace and big hooks of “Imperial Hotel,” one of Nicks’ standout moments.

“What was it she wanted?” Nicks queries on “No Spoken Word,” continuing a theme of contemplation that runs through the narratives. Nicks never lands on a definite answer, but hearing her explore loneliness, love, and the secrets we keep to ourselves proves continuously rewarding. Take her passionate performance on a cover of Chas Sanford’s “Talk to Me,” a Top 5 smash furthered by tasteful saxophone lines and understated folk elements. Immersive yourself in the grand sonic corridors of “If I Were You,” laden with Nicks’ signature mysticism.

Moreover, surrender to the gravitas of the closing “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You,” a piano ballad composed about the death of Joe Walsh’s three-year-old daughter. As Nicks asserts earlier on the album, she sings for things money can’t buy.

So, rock a little, yes, but dare to feel even more.

Berlin-based producer ZentaSkai returns with ‘Analog Assets Vol. 04’, a four-track vinyl-only EP focused on analog texture, dub-inflected atmospherics, and disciplined techno structure. Active since 1997 and operating Mask Records and its parent label, Zaijenroots, from his Berlin studio, he continues to refine a sound shaped by spatial control and steady, architectural pacing. Tracks unfold patiently, elements are introduced with intent, and nothing feels excessive.
Setting the tone with Cuddling Monsters’ partner, Laura Merino Allue, A1 features phased melodic textures and crisp percussion that gradually lock in the rhythm. A2 develops a filtered synth motif over a steady four-to-the-floor rhythm, revealing its full weight before pulling back. B1 is the most direct cut, driven by a firm, punchy beat and sharp rhythmic detailing built for peak-time focus, while B2 closes with rising string layers over a dub framework, balancing warmth and precision in a clean, measured finish.
With releases on Jerome Sydenham’s Ibadan Records and upcoming collaborations including Cuddling Monsters with Laura Merino Allue and a joint project with Thomas Grun for Rhythm Trax Austria, ZentaSkai’s work sits comfortably between minimal experimentation and functional dancefloor design.
Supported by artists such as Richie Hawtin, Joseph Capriati, Marcel Dettmann, Luke Slater, Laurent Garnier, and DVS1, he maintains a consistent presence within the underground without chasing trends.

MASK Records founder ZentaSkai joins forces with Berlin-based creative Laura Merino Allue under the name Cuddling Monsters, a project centered on analog processes and tactile sound design. Debuting in March 2024, the project explores Detroit-infused House, dub Techno, and minimal soundscapes shaped by raw texture and spatial depth. Working exclusively with analogue instruments, the duo prioritise warmth, imperfection, and presence over polish. Alongside her music work, Laura Merino Allue is also a graphic designer, bringing a strong visual identity to the project’s wider aesthetic.
‘Cuddling Monsters' is inspired by real-life experiences — the raw, imperfect, beautiful moments we move through. We believe in staying present, feeling everything deeply, and embracing the analog flow of the now. It’s about living the moment fully — and like a cuddle on the dancefloor, creating a space where sound holds you, warmth surrounds you, and even the wildest monsters feel safe enough to soften.’ -
Cuddling Monsters
The Cuddling Monsters ‘Vol. 3’ EP opens with ‘Bubble Bloom’, a melodic house track featuring warped, filtered synth tones that set a hazy foundation before a dub-leaning beat settles in. It’s layered with aquatic, bubbly textures and fragmented samples, adding warmth and movement. ‘Warm Waves’ shifts into a lighter, more atmospheric space, increasing the tempo slightly while maintaining a restrained, ethereal character. The B-side closes with ‘Secret Signal’, a long-form techno piece stretching over ten minutes, where evolving synth lines gradually merge with soft, dubby drums and analogue percussion, building steadily without excess before easing out.