Cosmic | Balearic Vinyl 408 Items

The by-now seminal Is It Balearic label welcomes long-time Balearic boss Max Essa for another superbly horizontal offering that will take you to the beach no matter where you are. He is a regular on this label who has been serving up top tunes and compiling superb collections like 2016's 10-Year Anniversary comp for ages, and the quality levels never dip. This fresh four-tracker traverses gently breaking synth waves, undulating dubby undercurrents and gloriously sun-kissed synth work all in a soothing and meditative style.

It’s testament to the man they call Medlar, that you never quite know what you might get with one of his releases. Wolf Music family since the early days, his latest mini-LP on the label is no exception. Seven cuts that prove this man can do anything, taking you on an otherworldly, island tour. First stop, ‘Aerial’, channelling that inner Wally Badarou for a cosmic, sand-stomping chuggathon, heavy on the juiced-up basslines, tripped out synth wizardry and space delay goodness. Your pace quickens, ‘Iguanadon’ rattles the world around you, shamanic echoes swirling through your skull as that acidic stab hypnotises you into a stupor. Out the other side, you stumble across an ‘Elephant Bingo’. Cup of tea, track three. Slap bass, bongos and synth stabs lifting the spirits. Back on the beach you drift off into a slice of sleazed up Balearic business, turning the funk dial all the way up to 11 via ‘elv’. Suddenly things take a trippier turn. Are you dreaming? ‘cr78-108’ booms in the background, pure jungle-tinged, digi dubwise movements. A few stiff drinks and you’re on your feet again. ‘Phoenix Lights’ New York house stylings pump you with life, even if your hazy brain is still hearing wild echoes all over the place. How did you end up here, 10 hours later? One too many ‘Sin Prisa’ homebrews no doubt, yet you’re still stompin through, granted it’s of the slow-mo, acid-laced variety though. What was in that welcome drink Medlar handed you at the start? Who knows, who cares when you get that kinda bang for your buck.

After the first two Earthly Tapes & a handful of EPs, Earthly Measures drops its first full-length album with Mente Organica’s El Espacio - a beautifully crafted album with glorious textures, steady grooves, calming vibes & a dancefloor filler or two. Born in Bogotá, Colombia – producer & multi-instrumentalist Mente Organica has slowly been making a name for himself within the folktronica/Latin scene. Following multiple album and EP releases over the past few years, El Espacio marks his first release on wax and the music stands out from anything he has done before. These 8 tracks surprise & reward the listener as individual harmonies at first, and finally, as a whole and immersive symphony. From 'Pablo Bebe’, a track he wrote which is inspired & dedicated to his best friend – to ‘Close the Door’, written in the depths of quarantine, reflecting isolation, loneliness & introspection, & ‘Yoga’ - a song written with his father that can be easily heard filling the dancefloor as well as easy bedroom sessions, this album truly does feel like his most personal work yet. Eagle’- an utterly unique track born in Pucon, Chile, after meeting opera singer Katy Prado - blends sensibilities of 60s psychedelic rock vocals with Mente’s signature electronica. ‘Dame Un Segundo’ is the lobby track of the album, with Balearic vibes: chilled, jazzy & floaty. Title track ‘El Espacio’ pays homage to Mente’s influences growing up - think Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation & Air - giving us that Trip Hop vibe. ‘Huanini’ is a real groover - a low-key dance track that evokes that ‘start of the night’ feeling of excitement, with heavy experimentation of granular synths. Finally, rounding the album off with melodies of hope, delight and positivity, ‘Partida’ reminds us that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

Banabila returns with a second LP release on Knekelhuis. The renowned Dutch producer is up there among the stars when it comes to ambient music and the so-called ‘fourth world’ legacy. On this eleven-track album, we witness soul-wrenching, kraut-tinted, and early-yet-modernist electronics.

Coming from his heart, these imaginative recordings center around otherworldly voices – fictional characters chanting in a made-up language, imbued with a captivating spirit, transcending linguistic barriers. Through remarkable complexity and technique, 'Unspeakable Visions' is full of sonic textures, together evoking a layered, emotional arc.

While the track 'Rattles' still references the artist's first album on Knekelhuis, 'Echo Transformations', the style of most other tracks departs towards an intriguing new mix of both pop-infused songs and gloomy abstraction, balancing between a sense of anticipation and desolation.

After highly acclaimed releases from OK EG and Donald’s House, Wax’o Paradiso Recordings proudly welcomes Naarm/Melbourne producer Midnight Tenderness (Ryan Hunter) to the fold. Over four tracks the ‘Hydrosphere EP’ continues the label’s narrative of platforming contemporary antipodean psychedelia with three masterful productions and a remix from Boorloo/Perth’s Hame DJ. As a producer with influences rooted in dub, street soul, boogie and the DNA of UK club music, Ryan draws down on the Middy T sound with the title track ‘Hydrosphere’, a blend of broken machine funk, glistening synth lines and beautiful crisp drum programming. ‘Rain Vibe’ takes the sound palette further adding a hefty wub for good measure. ‘Catamaran’ transports us back to the golden era on the Balearic isles, with the original evoking Ibizan sunset cruises whilst Hame DJ’s remix brings some Madchester chug to the mix.

Mihail P (Verdant/Where We Met/Magnonic Signals) returns to Distant Worlds with 4 more communiques of inter-dimensional wonder. Here, the Macedonian sonic strategist sets his sound palette ever wider whilst still maintaining his signature emotional pads and haunting melodies integral to all his productions. His hauntological approach bears fruit throughout -the future fails us so let's explore different futures, different interpretations of the past, the present. Certainly a maturation in sound, this manifesto offers up 4 distinct meditations on the continuum of electronic sound from the early 90s through to the present day and beyond..

Japanese folk trio Minmoa succeed where few others have. Inspired by laid back 60’s psych-folk, it’s clear that their sound is indebted to the likes of Fairport Convention and Virgin Insanity, but they stand out by updating that sound, breathing new life into a sound that’s become almost cliche.

Their first album, Kikyo no Hi (2021) was released to critical acclaim, with particular praise directed towards lead vocalist Saeko Kusaka’s expressive vocal performance, and the unique guitar playing of Takaaki Konno. The first analog 7-inch single from Minmoa contains “Shinya no Teikibin” from their first album, and “Madokana Yoru”, the title track from their upcoming second EP! Simultaneously laid-back and moving, this unique coupling of two of Minmoa’s best songs on limited edition 45rpm vinyl is one you must not miss! Get it in a flipback cover, available only from P-vine Records!

After a first release by a member of the crew, Love Reaction is proud and humbled to welcome on the label one of Geneva’s rising stars and longtime friend, Mirlaqi. With this record, he offers a simple yet poetic groove : Disco and balearic in their broadest sense, tinged with his signature touch of Spatial House. A very personal project, produced in collaboration with family and friends. He has known the instrumentalists on bassoon and sax since high school. The singer, with her spellbound voice, is now a recurring partner, featured on every record he released. He also brought his cousin into the equation, to help him on his journey back to his origins, as she translated parts of the texts to Armenian. A-side includes the most organic tracks of the record, that, while still suited to make you dance, will also fit perfectly as a soundtrack to end a shiny afternoon in front of the ocean. On the flip, the clubbier tracks : An original production, This Color, which is the track that inspired the cover art, and a remix by parisian italo-maestro LeonxLeon. Expect the most infectious grooves the balearic spectrum could offer and prepare to dance, not on the beach this time, but rather in orbit, on the red sand of Mars.

Next up from Palms & Charms, a sublime collection of sun-tinged instrumentals straight out of Vilnius, Lithuania. Miskotom have been releasing some beautiful deep house and downtempo gems in recent years on the likes of Pleasure Unit and Dreamtime. We are very pleased to have the duo here on P&C.
Opening track Huacachina is reminiscent of 90's jazzy house, but with a mellow and distinctly organic palette. Next up, Berenice's Hair catches the wind and features a downtempo chugging groove with swirling organ, cowbell and deep synth pads.
Nazska brings a slice of mystery to a mid-tempo breakdown. Horizontal atmospherics hold sway, as picked guitar and choral synths summon visions of a tropical sun risingover the bay. Finally, title track Aegean Cruise 1955 features swirling guitar trading with ethereal synths evoking nostalgic voyages around the Anatolian Peninsula.

Mitka is a sound engineer and musician from Ekaterinburg, who mainly works in the film industry. We’ve contacted him after listening couple of his tracks on the web, his music amazed us, but we didn’t knew anything about Mitka himself. He doesn’t play live shows, doesn’t post on social media and in general it feels like he has an ascetic lifestyle. For “Sound2” album Mitka has been recording drums in the forest, because “acoustic there is better than at home” and he didn’t had money for a studio. He made a guitar by himself because regular fret position is not for him, many of his compositions are played in quarter tone. The titles of the songs on the album are just Mitka’s notes, for understanding harmonies and tunings. “Sound2” gives you the mystical and cinematic feeling, but at the same time sounds warm and familiar. While listenin this album you can imagine your walk through the green forest covered with fog. You might not know the way out, or how did you get there, but your mind can stay quiet and calm, because Mitka will be your guide.

South Korean funkmeister MOGWAA delivers a 6 tracker in his debut. This is the epitome of the instrumental "MODERN FUNK" sound. Heavy analog synths & drum machines for days composed & played by a classically trained musician. It's a well rounded EP across the loner funk, outsider boogie spectrum. Out on STAR CREATURE.

"This limited release is a collaboration between Monkey Timers Disko Klubb and a Japanese record label from Amsterdam trusted by fans & artists around the world, Sound Of Vast.

Monkey Timers are gaining support in Japan and abroad as a DJ / production unit that is pioneering the next phase of the Japanese new house and disco dub music scene. They will be releasing their long-awaited full-length album ‘Klubb Lonely’ in collaboration with Disko Klubb and Sound Of Vast as a 2LP set limited to 500 copies worldwide.

The album will be packed with collaborations with vocalists / producers / musicians from Japan and abroad including a cover of Dusty Springfield's ‘That's The Kind Of Love I've Got for You’ featuring Lisa Tomlins, who is known for her vocals on Lord Echo and Recloose albums. Also featuring are Berlin-based Mr. Ties; Keith Sano, a promising talent from Okayama who is gaining international attention; Mirrror, an up-and-coming Japanese-American hip-hop unit; DJ Sammo Hung Kam-Bo (Omoide Baka Yarou ATeam); Marimba player Mami Tsunodou, who is a supporting member of cero, Kirinji, etc. and many more.

Mixed and mastered by Justin Van Der Volgen (MY Rules). The cover design was done by C.E designer Sk8Thing. "

On Otun, the breadth of Montoya’s influences and tastes is at its most striking; the dulcet techno hum of “La Pastora” is perforated by sprightly flutes and percussion, while lead single “Solo Quiero” deploys a languid reggaeton pattern beneath Bogota rising star Pedrina’s distorted, wilting croon anticipating a euphoric synthesiser-lead climax. The title track, featuring a sultry guest vocal from Nidia Gongora, is a fierce and vigorous club anthem, amplified by hissing synth pads and sordid breakbeats. Even a more straightforwardly techno track like “Tatacoa” is stylised with intoxicating Indian vocal samples, and more traditional folk selections like “Orun” still use an inobtrusive bassline drone. Montoya’s palette is simultaneously expansive and curious, yet coherent, with a steadily melodic electronic through-line running through Otun’s duration.
Montoya absolutely sustains ZZK’s pedigree of platforming the most exciting and inventive electronic artists from Latin America, joining the storied legacy already built by the likes of Nicola Cruz, Chancha Via Circuito, and King Coya.

Fresh from his last release on Internasjonal, Das Komplex aka Marcin Lukaszewicz offers up a snapshot of his musical stylings under his Moogy Coast disguise all landing somewhere between a sun soaked beach and a sweaty dancefloor. PS: Contains the (until now) Prins Thomas floorburner/secret weapon

Mori Ra with the fastest diggers trigger in all the land completes a set of dancefloor ready edits of Japanese electronic & city-pop songs culled from his well-known Japanese Breeze mix series that he does with the Rotating Souls record label. Some of the tunes are familiar and some rare and unknown but Mori puts his own touch that can only come from years of experience and an extreme relationship to the originals. This record is a joint release between both Rotating Souls & Forest Jams.

With his newest EP Goa Tee, Moscoman finds himself seven releases deep into his 12 part Treisar series.

Living up to its name, the seventh piece of the puzzle is the trippiest of the series yet, kicking off with Some Of My Fears, a piece if outer space hypnosis carried by a rolling percussion and bass combo that will keep firmly stomping across dancefloors.

Reflecting the mood set on the A side, Moments In Space sees Moscoman channel his Italo flair while reaching out for a rave indebted sonic palette. Final track Chinchilla closes on delirious sounds and 8 bit melodies rubbing shoulders with a lovingly syncopated beat. A weapon all exotically inclined DJs will be reaching out for a their next jungle party.

And he kneeled, raising his hands over his head to unveil his precious offering, flanked between two pieces of bread and covered in the most delicious mustard.

Four months into his Treisar series, Moscoman is seriously entering his stride. On the EP’s A-side, the low rumbling guitars on Butchers seem to tangle upon themselves. Interjected by stabbing drums, a glittering synth line floats over the top to mesmerising effect.

"Nemesh is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he devours the prey. In the evening he divides the spoil."

Events take a somber turn as Moscoman’s Treisar project edges closer to its natural conclusion with Nemesh.

The ninth chapter in the Treisar series opens up with The Lady Of The Light, a mechanical ride through the later stages of madness, all in automated bleeps and sinister laments.

Pain Collection sees Moscoman channel his post punk sensibilities through anguished guitars, while Walls Of Jericho gives Nemesh its final master stroke with a middle eastern dancefloor war song.