Nu-Jazz | Broken Beat Vinyl 130 Items

"The Remedy," is I G Culture's latest album under Likwid Continutal Space Motion, Culture draws parallels between the complex world of fungi and London's Underground dance music scene. Both are intricate networks that thrive beneath the surface, connecting diverse elements and influencing one another. The London dance music scene, like fungi, encompasses a variety of styles and genres, from drum and bass to Garage Dance Subcultures may go unnoticed to the casual observer but are musical corner stones in our society. Dance floors and clubs serve as spaces for communal healing, allowing people to let go of daily stresses and connect through music and dance. I G Culture's "The Remedy" celebrates this vibrant underground culture and highlights the interconnectedness of all musical styles. Through his innovative production and thematic depth, he underscores the transformative power of dance music, emphasizing its role in promoting well-being and unity. The idea of Fungi also is expressed in the artwork by Amsterdams 'Machine' with IG's direction, who used fungi in an original collage revealing a secret world.

New selection of Acid Jazz songs this time from the funkier side of this music. Groove, rhythm and a lot of happy feeling. Inside some classic artists of the genre such as Black & Brown, Jestofunk, LTJ Xperience, Funky Destination, Lo Greco Bros & Fusion Funk Foundation, Man Sueto, Vito Lalinga (Vi Mode Inc. Project), The Smoke Orchestra, The Last Minister , Gazzara with many versions not available on vinyl for some time or never released on this support. Limited edition double vinyl. Groove, rhythm and a lot of happy feeling.

Makin' Moves! Here we present the hot new limited Edition Vinyl EP.

Side A brings you a tantalising remix from Chicago's finest, Mr Glenn Underground! "Let It Go" originally produced by MAQman and Joseph Junior on MM, gets the special treatment where GU gives us his signature CVO mix which is sure to grab the attention of DJ's, dancers and music lovers worldwide!!!

Side B On the flip we present a man of very few words, however expresses an executes the deep soulful sound eloquently. Trinidadian Deep gets busy with championing his signature roots stylee, curated especially for the dance floor sprinkled with a little baby powder!

2000BLACK returns once again with 'Circus Retreat' a song trying to navigate the continuous confusion that surrounds us today. Samii provides the voice and lyrics on a unique uptempo soul fusion track.
The originality continues with one of the signature sounds of 2000BLACK 'London Boogie 7', the music giving off the sound of modern boogie and house combined.
To round up the ep 'Shrug' displays the marriage of dub and techno residing in the big smoke.

Words from the label:

“Kwahu” is an ode to Blay’s Ghanaian/Liberian heritage. Taking inspiration from highlife and afro-jazz, Kwahu tells his musical interpretation of the myths of the Kwahu Mountains featuring the excellent sax by Mart Boumans. The extended mix translates the original version into a percussion-heavy call to the dancefloor with wading breaks and undeniable energy.

Flipping over to the B-side, we start off with the title track “Spiritual Emersion”. This deep cut starts off with lush jazzy chords layered on top of a solid four-to-the-floor groove. It ventures off into a dreamy calypso-esque rhythm with an enticing synth lead and swinging percussion.

Closing the EP is a tongue-in-cheek banger suited for some of that sought after euphoria. “Out Of The Darkness” deceives you by its modest minimal introduction, but soon after it hits you on the head with energetic synths. It grabs you with an infectious melody, vocal chops and clever production tricks to guide you through the peaks and valleys of the track.

Glenn Echo & Daniel Meinecke are back with their hotly anticipated follow-up of What Happened To Yesterday?! This one makes a hat trick on MotorCity Wine Recordings, and cranks up the heat in time for the summer.

Vol. 2 grabs from our favorite moments of both their debut "Partly Cloudy" and Vol. 1, perfectly synthesizing the heady and dubby with the cosmic dance flavors, while always eschewing a genre-box. As the opening invocation "World In My Head" says, "why should I repeat myself?", and the boys continue to push the envelope and find new boundaries. The A-side continues with muscular downtempo joints, with highlights including the Psychedelic Hip-Hop of “Explanation of The Funk” (feat. sultry trumpet from Dre King and cuts by DJ Stylus) and the Gogo-Afrobeat fusion of “Three-Season Crank” (featuring the brilliant Raja Kassis on guitar).

Over to the flip side, "Off The Rails" kicks it off with the most dance-floor oriented joint on the record. From there the album gets dubbier and more meditative, culminating with the blissed out "Black Bird Dub". It's the perfect come down after the earlier beatdown.

Glenn's multi-influenced production is as inspired as ever, while Mr. Meinecke continues to show us why he's earned his stripes as *the* seminal keyboard player in the scene. Whether it's drawing from 70's weed jazz, early 80's dancehall, 90's downtempo, or the most rippin' jazz fusion, Glenn Echo & Daniel Meinecke round out the "What Happened To Yesterday" series in fine singular style.

Housed in a beautiful matte finish picture sleeve with art from Michal Rafaj and pressed on deep translucent purple vinyl. TIP!

Heralded by the “Soul Drum” 12” EP (scep507, 2022), Gerardo Frisina’s new double record “Joyful Sound” represents another step forward on his ongoing travel towards new musical paths. Joyful sounds narrate a journey made of wisely distilled notes, bright and sometimes mysterious atmospheres, harmonies that wander through shadows, silences, and lights. A chameleonic Gerardo enchants with every release, mixing jazz, Latin, Afro-Cuban sounds, oriental fragrances, electronic beats, tribal percussions, funky variations and, to summarize, elegant symphonic arrangements with refined mastery. “Joyful Sound” once again sees the participation of the late Enzo Frassi (double bass), Fabrizio Bernasconi (piano, Rhodes), Gendrickson Mena (trumpet, piano), Alfonso Deidda (sax, flute) and Ernesto Lopez (drums, percussion), with the addition of Piero Perelli on drums and Giovanni Guerretti on piano, Hammond and Rhodes. This new record, carefully orchestrated and produced by Gerardo, required over a year of intense work, however it is worth every second of its 75 minutes of music. As the great Charles Mingus once said, “Play it in the key of your soul”. Without a doubt, Gerardo always gives his soul in full!

Colombian artist Dfra links with some of Argentina's finest musicians for a high-class mix of 90s and 00s deep house and a wide array of proper jazz stylings to this new EP on Deeppa, a well-formed young label that will soon hit release number 10. 'Sal Marina' kicks off with shuffling beats and nu-jazz chords that make you want to move, while both 'Green Line' and 'Manits' showcase some superb melodies over more percussive, busy beats that have a great sense of movement. 'Brown Sugar' then gets a little deeper with its withering cosmic lines and heartfelt vocals and the main man Atjazz works ii onto something even more potent before 'Sal Marina Lay-Far remix)' closes down with a timeless soulful house vibe.

Marcello Cassanelli is back on Ten Lovers Music after previously appearing on Tlm030 with the incredible track Fantasia. This time Marcello delivers a fantastic 7″ project for us with two superb tracks where he plays keys, bass, percussion and drum programming himself. He also wrote, produced and mixed both the tracks.

On the A side Espresso is an uptempo number showcasing Marcello’s trademark sound just superb music which carries on with the AA side They Groove which slows the tempo down but still keeps his unique sound running throughout the track. An exciting release to start 2024.

Felipe Gordon's label Wide Awake presents Argentina's best preserved secret Vinocio for its second release; a first-time vinyl issue of their soulful jazz album Me Estas Haciendo Mal. If you're into D'Angelo or anything on the Soulquarians spectrum, this is for you!

We are pleased to present the new album from veteran Spanish DJ and producer, Dj Toner (aka Antonio Herrera). Alongside his co-writer/arranger Daniel Molina and with guests that include the legendary Blue Note Records innovator Erik Truffaz and Grammy winning flautist and saxophonist Jorge Pardo, he has created a 10 track collection of slow-burning instrumentals that straddle the worlds of hip hop, jazz and electronica.

With a personal, precision tooled approach to his craft, the Andalusian has offered up an album of finely modelled downbeat moods.

At first glance, ‘Out Side’ is made up of recognisably superior hip hop instrumentals but if you listen carefully, and with patience, one can hear a craftsman at work. A wooden box is just a box until you look closer. The hidden joints, the perfect lining up of the grain, the years of artisanal graft and laser-focussed attention to detail that go into making something that has nothing present, that doesn’t deserve to be there. This is how Dj Toner operates.

The two singles that preempt the album’s release reveal different sides of his craft. ‘Camina’ struts with tough intentions. Soundtrack-y in an exploitation police drama manner, the get-out-of-my-way drum break and tension-filled chords suggest the bad cop, Erik Truffaz’s piercing lyrical trumpet lines, the good. The Afro-jazz horns led second release ‘Surprise’ is an altogether more playful, sunbaked affair. Sensual and slow-burning, there’s still an edge but it’s too hot to quarrel.

Dj Toner’s minimalist attitude to creation is shared with his co-composer Molina - an individual’s contribution may be cut to the bone, leaving just its aura or tone. The echo of a piano, a single blast of tuneful wind from a flute, a perfectly positioned drum hit.

Since the Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA began applying his beatmaking prowess to movie soundtracks, the hip hop instrumental has been acknowledged as something to listen to, as much as being used as a DJ tool or backing for an MC. Dj Toner’s instrumentals can, therefore, be seen as soundtracks. Soundtracks to his life and craft, vignettes of his environment in both the urban sprawl and the wider and slower spaces of “el campo”.

The sweet-tempered jazz-blues of ‘La Rimosa’ is a gentle welcome to the album. A simple, laid back groove with the most romantic of piano hooks that one could imagine Common dropping rhymes on. You’re kept on your toes with the odd purposeful moment of discordant interruption but the tender heart of the composition is never far away.

‘O’Beat’ hints at John Coltrane with the sparse but full-sounding upright bass before a head-snap break leads into a curious piano groove, a vintage organ swirls into a psychedelic fractal, whilst the bluesy female vocal snippets add the spice, that zing in the Granadan gazpacho.

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The flamenco guitar driven ‘Flama’ is an excellent example of intricate sample placement and musicality. Old school (school yard) scratch interludes, sweet piano hooks, a minimalist but knife sharp flute contribution from Jorge Pardo, and the crunchiest of drums taking us for an intriguing walk round the corner.

We’ve mentioned them before but it’s on ‘Sweetband’ that we can feel that Wu-Tang dread hanging off its shoulders. A brooding orchestral number with powerful horns and a cavernous piano hit. The title of the piece is in stark contrast to the dark shadows of the tune.

Erik Truffaz returns in fine form on the super lethargic jazz-funk-hop of ‘The Day’. His instantly identifiable muted trumpet sound paints dazzling colours over the more earthy tones of the filtered down keys as a rubbery upright bass keeps the forward momentum. Dj Toner’s ‘Blessed Are The Weird People’ album, was rated in Jazz Magazine as one of the 20 jazz albums of 2021, so he isn’t some dilettante when it comes to playing with the complex hues of jazz but he does like to strip it to its bare essentials.

‘Fanega’ sees a gorgeous flute contribution from Jorge Pardo. An eerie boom-bap groove with sprinkles of electronic pulses and washed out chords is the canvas on which the award-winning multi-instrumentalist evokes the heat shimmer of the savannah.

‘Esperanza’ translates as ‘hope’ in English and this lovely slow, swinging jazzy groove really does provoke feelings of positivity and belief. Sublime vibraphone and another stunning trumpet offering from Erik Truffaz, take us on a journey of warm days and possibilities, the shuffling drums and sweet chord patterns are nicely finished off by a tranquil horn chorus towards its unhurried end.

‘Under Beat’ ends on a beefy boom-bap groove with a liquid funk bassline, elegant synth strings and old school scratching. Again, there’s that undisputable soundtrack edge, action and motion, the smell of the city.

There you have it, 10 tracks that go beyond the surface, deep into the dedicated craft of Dj Toner. Decades of experience and collaboration purified and refined into beat-heavy emotions, listen closely or crank it up, it’s down to you!

Belgian artist Gratts wrote 'Sun Circles' as an empowerment anthem for his two sons and it dropped to plenty of acclaim last year. In its wake, Gratts DJed with Adelaide's multi-talented Alexander Flood on percussion and after some conversations he was enlisted to bring his jazz background to a remix of the original. He did so live as part of a quintet and the result is a super summery, airy rework with soulful vocals that linger long in the air. Detroit-based techno and ambient maestro John Beltran appears on the flip to bring a classy Balearic remix that will have you dreaming of longer, warmer nights and plenty of sun-kissed dancing fun

New album by the maestro! Parrish's electronics getting blended with a good dose of Jazz & Soul influence - here the past collides with the future.

Ladi6 is a singer with soul. A singer with a hip-hop background and masses of pop-appeal. A singer who first gained attention through her features with the legendary New Zealand export-band Fat Freddy's Drop, but who has also performed alongside such diverse artists as Gil Scott-Heron, Mayer Hawthorne and Mos Def. In short: A singer whose eyes have seen much and whose style is not governed by rules. As if that wasn't enough, her enormous charisma enables her to win her audience over within minutes with full support of her band of Parks and Julien Dyne (BBE).
The 30-year old has always endeavored to use music to tear down barriers and dissolve purported genre-boundaries. With her previous album, "Time Is Not Much" (BBE) which was produced by Parks and Mu (Fat Freddy's Drop), Ladi6 has already taken a perfect shot at her goal, which, combined with the interplay between the many diverse elements of the music, has a highly impressive effect. "The Liberation Of…" has already top the New Zealand independent charts for consecutive weeks and her single "Like Water" is the #1 independent New Zealand song on radio.

Ladi6, a New Zealander of Samoan origin, feels a deep connection to her homeland. And her homeland has suffered some tragic events in recent years: One and a half years ago, the South Sea paradise of Samoa was stuck by a Tsunami. Ladi6, whose real name is Karoline Tamati, was present when the wave of destruction arrived. A few weeks ago an earthquake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, devastated the New Zealand city of Christchurch - the town in which her family lives. Again, Karoline bore witness to a natural catastrophe inflicting deep wounds on the soul of a population.

All the more surprising then, that 'The Liberation Of…' doesn't for one moment sound burdened or melancholy. Quite the contrary, in fact: It is an easygoing, feel-good album. The title of the record, however, suggests both the aim of the songs and the result, which their creation has achieved. For the album is exactly that, which its title suggests: Liberation.

A collection of unreleased tracks from the early 90's Jumpin' & Pumpin' era, when Fsol hid behind various guises

For more than a decade, Freak Heat Waves have been steadily amassing a cult following and earning acclaim from both critics and underground aficionados alike. Their music is a heady cocktail that defies easy categorization, blending elements of post-punk, psych, dub, ambient, house, and techno. Their eclectic sound has served as the soundtrack to countless DIY punk shows, outsider galleries and sleazy discos, establishing the duo as iconoclasts with a reputation for ignoring expectations and subverting genre conventions. While at times, the term ‘acquired taste’ may have seemed fitting, their latest release offers their most alluring output to date. Mondo Tempo, the duo's fifth LP, released through Vancouver's Mood Hut, was primarily recorded at their home studios in Montreal and Victoria. Building upon the electronic explorations of their previous record, Zap The Planet (Telephone Explosion), they inject their signature sound with a smoother and sweeter blend of dance music. The album’s tracks feature midi smoothness, trance mantras, dancehall grooves, ambient textures and vocal samples, creating a world that is both captivating and immersive. Notably, the lead single “In A Moment Divine” features a collaboration with Cindy Lee, resulting in a dance floor number that boldly ventures beyond the familiar wheelhouses of both acts. With Mondo Tempo Freak Heat Waves solidify their reputation as one of the most exciting and unpredictable acts around.

Kenichiro Nishihara's very popular song "my leaving feat. mabanua" is finally available on 7inch! The popular song "my leaving feat. mabanua" from the 4th album "Jazzy Folklore" is finally available on 7inch. The flip side features the Esno Remix, which had not previously been released. In contrast to the original, the electro-oriented remix of this track reveals the unfathomable potential of Kenichiro Nishihara and this song.

When Jazz Meets Italo-Disco. Two Italian legends meet and deliver a unique contemporary jazz-house fusion! ''Stefano Cantini is a well-known saxophonist in the Italian and international jazz scene. In recent years he has focused on a project called Living Coltrane with Ares Tavolazzi, Francesco Maccianti and Piero Borri. Stefano and Maurizio Dami (Alexander Robotnick) had worked together for a while in the mid '80s and Stefano also played on GMM's album (''Love Supreme'' is the best known track). Since then, Stefano has focused totally on Jazz whilst Maurizio Dami produced World Music in the '90s and later on, under the artist name Alexander Robotnick, retrieved in 2000, turned to electronic music again, so the two musicians lost track of each other for 40 years. Robotnick says, ''In March 2023 I received a call from a club in Pisa, Cantiere San Bernardo. They asked me whether I could play live with Stefano ''Cocco'' Cantini on the occasion of a special event dedicated to Giovanotti Mondani Meccanici. I called him and he answered enthusiastically. Shortly before the concert we rehearsed at the Follonica Music School which he directs. He improvised with me on the bases of my live. We liked our rehearsal and a few days later, on June 2nd 2023, we played in Pisa with much success. So came the idea of doing something together. We decided to produce an EP featuring 3 tracks. On some of my bases Stefano created a harmonic texture to improvise on. I mainly took care of the arrangement and the production. But what we play is the result of improvisation, with hardly any editing. It's amazing how we managed to work together so smoothly after so many years, as if we had never stopped. We called this project 'Robocok'''. They are modal tracks with a techno approach and harmonically open. Almost a provocation to the staticity of contemporary dance. On ''Francocco'' and ''Frigiococco'' Stefano plays soprano sax whilst on ''Afrococco'' he plays alto. Guglielmo Bottin took the task of making a remix. He picked ''Francocco'' and skilfully turned it into a pure drums and piano groove. Perfect for the dancefloor.''

Ruth Koleva hails from Sofia, Bulgaria, and has been a TV star and singing out concert halls for years. She has also long been singing on some superb broken beat and nu-jazz records while working with top-level production talent and having her tunes remixed by Zed Bias, Kaidi Tatham, Mark de Clive-Lowe and Eric Lau. The neo-soul star's Ruth album gets a special anniversary edition release here with four heart-melting and textbook neo-soul tunes on the A-side then some super remixes on the flip. This is timeless stuff that works on the heart and the heel in equal measure.

Artwork insert, in PVC outer sleeve.

Awanto3 (also known for his work with Aardvarck and Kid Sublime on Rednose Distrikt) returns to Rush Hour with "Party" Volume 1. Moody and rolling MPC work outs with live accompaniment from a solid cast (Jos De Haas (New Cool Collective) on percussion and Stefan Schmid (Zuco 103) on keys). Broken Beat heads look out .... this really smacks. TIP!

Backstory: Party was born in a small village located in Wallonia during a period of house-sitting for a family on holiday. Initially my mother was asked to take care of the chickens, goat, dog and donkey but eventually I decided to take care of them to relieve my mother. This week turned out to be a small nightmare, because I think the house was being possessed by a spirit that I had to deal with night and day. The vibe of the house was so grimy, due to the fact that there were calendars with all kinds of weapons and dark oak furniture, interspersed with a huge flatscreen and blinds at the ready to be rolled out when the sun started to go down (by request of the paranoid owner). This setting affected my sketches; a dark side that was looking for contra light weight. After I took care of the animals, I had an energy to escape to my MPC to make the basis for a possible new album. When I got back in Amsterdam, I started to work out some of the sketches I’ve made in the ghost house together with Stefan and Jos in Studio K at Sloterdijk.

Gilles Peterson : "Love this!"

Deepening of a Groove is the new album, the fifth dedicated to the research of sounds Disco Funk from its origins revisited by today's rhythms and the dancefloor feeling of 2000. For the first time on this album 4 sung songs appear. Bad Side (already released in single version) and Infiltrator are sung by Anduze, soul singer from Los Angeles also known for his collaboration with Parov Stelar. I'm Gonna Funk U and Stranger are sung by the Marche singer AdniL for the first time in collaboration with LTJ.

Electronic duo Spring Heel Jack return with a collaboration with the legendary American trumpeter and Pulitzer Prize nominee Wadada Leo Smith. Wadada was born in the Mississippi Delta and became immersed in the music of the great blues masters as a young musician. He then moved to Chicago and became an early member of the AACM alongside the likes of Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton, Malachi Favors and Roscoe Mitchell. Recorded last year in London, this LP sees Smith’s authoritative trumpet joined by Steve Noble’s drums and Pat Thomas’ piano, to make a stunning piece of aural theatre in six acts.

Susso, aka bassist / producer Huw Bennett, creates music inspired by, and directly sampling, the magnificent sounds of the Mandinka people, recorded during a recent trip to Gambia. Initially travelling with the aim of gaining perspective as a musician and to discover a new world of music first hand, Huw found himself humbled by such a welcoming community of artists, mostly belonging to the celebrated Suso and Kuyateh griot families. The tracks are composed entirely from original source material, field recordings and Huw’s talents as a multi-instrumentalist; performing tuned percussion from the region including the Mandinka Balafon, Kutiringding drum, aswell drawing on his skill as a professional upright / electric bassist. The music produced has a contemporary electronic sound, whilst still paying homage to a traditional Gambian aesthetic. Keira (meaning peace) guides the listener through Huw’s journey up the River Gambia, being welcomed into remote dusty villages, where your people are the most important thing in life.

Label boss Demuir steps up for the 8th 12" from Purveyor Underground Limited and uses the opportunity to dedicate the music to his mother. This Grooves From Mama's Kitchen EP has already picked up some notable plays from the likes of Jimpster, Masters At Work and Kerri Chandler and is a swinging house offering with great depth and musicality. 'Beat 6 (Luv Is Complicated)' is majestic and soulful house with diva vocals and brilliant melodies, while the dub is more paired back. 'In Awe Of You' brings the jazz with its bright lead synths and soulful grooves, while closer 'In Awe Of You Ma' (Gabriel's Strings) is more loose-limbed and playful with some fine horns.

Uk/nl reeds player, composer and producer Finn Peters presents his new 10", Red, Green and Blue; The three track EP of Nu Jazz/Broken Beats is being released on the artist's own Mantella Records imprint and sees a return to solo recording (after a decade hiatus) for the award winning Jazz maverick, beloved of Gilles Peterson and fans of cosmic jazz.
Influences include Compass Point Records, Africa Bambaata, Yusef Lateef and Walter Gibbons. It is heavy sounding with Mpc3000 and SP 12 drum breaks, heavy African and Brazilian percussion, ethereal flute choirs and analogue synths a plenty.

Bread & Souls is a new project dreamt up by Italian entrepreneur and music lover Franco Fusari. Franco invited Mark de Clive-Lowe on board to direct and produce an album of collaborations with some of our favorite artists including the likes of Bembé Segué, Vanessa Freeman, Paul Randolph, Rich Medina, Tommaso Cappellato and more.
Chapter 2 EP continues with more future classics, kicking off with the jazz dancefloor workout Never Gonna Leave featuring the Queen of Broken Beat Bembé Segué on vocals and shredding sax solos courtesy Teodross Avery. In classic soulful broken beat fashion, Bembe reunites again with Vanessa Freeman for Technicolor Sunshine – drenched in MdCL’s signature production sound. Two remixes complete this installment with Mr Scruff and Kaidi Tatham’s downtempo reworking Anybody Out There (check out the original version on Chapter 1) and Italy’s G&D coming through

Reel People Music breaks new ground, in more ways than one, with the launch of fresh compilation series Broken, Deep & Dope. A spin-off from acclaimed compilation brand Soulful, Deep & Dope – introduced back in 2015 – this new series sees the much-loved independent imprint pushing further at the boundaries of soulful music. All with that customary Reel People feeling.

Broken, Deep & Dope 2024, the series’ first instalment, unleashes 20 superlative examples of the soulful ‘bruk’ (broken beat), nu beat and nu jazz sound that has so innovatively informed contemporary dancefloors around the world since its inception back in late Nineties West London.

Bringing together classic cuts from the Reel People Music stable (including those by Daz-I-Kue, Monkey Brothers and Reel People) and key productions from some of its closest affiliates and biggest inspirations (such as Vikter Duplaix, Jazzanova, Bugz In The Attic, Kaidi Tatham, and Sean McCabe), this white-hot selection nips and tucks beautifully between stuttered Latin and Afro rhythms, deep house-edged jams and soaring flights of soul-jazz fancy.

Reel People Music is a label borne out of the soulful success of acclaimed collective Reel People but representing so much more. Launched in late 2009, the imprint has built a fiercely loyal international fanbase through its passion for artist development, musicianship, song-craft and authentic soulful groove.

Broken, Deep & Dope 2024, with its scattered yet compulsive beats, frisky basslines and acrobatic melodies, promises to further expand Reel People Music’s reputation for soulful depth and drama. Gathering old and new favourites from some of the world’s finest taste-making DJs and producers, this is another scorching, oh-soul essential hustle. End of.

Saturazione Momentanea is the first single from the upcoming album by 291out, set to be released on Tasty Treats Records at the end of this year.

It is a warm soundtrack, built up on a hypnotic groove, enhanced by electric piano and brass solos and it's a blend of electronic music and jazz/fusion, sound of the 70/80's era. B side Saturazione Sistemica is built upon the motif of the other track but create a different atmosphere and it's characterized by a huge brass section, electronic arpeggiators and smooth flute solo.

291out are known for their passion for soundtrack and on these pieces you can hear the influences from notable italian composers such as Riz Ortolani, Francesco De Masi and Augusto Martelli, just to name a few.

5 years after his last and 3rd album, Lucas Arruda finally presents his long awaited new LP on Favorite recordings: Ominira. Lucas turned more deeply into his native influences when composing this new beautiful album, aiming to capture the true essence of Brazilian Funk and AOR tradition.

Toronto native Demur is a master of groovy, funky deep house and has been since his fine debut TruSkool back in 2016. He has been busy of late with Visions back in March finding him collaborating with the likes of Fred P and Aaron Gray. Now comes another full length in Under The Waning Moon, another compelling mix of contemporary deep house sounds, well-sourced and deployed samples and elements of everything from jazz to funk to downtempo colouring the grooves. For steamy late-night stuff look no further than '21 Days A Hoe' while 'Wasted Wednesdays' is delightfully sunny and well swung for cosy back room vibes.

Lovely atmospheric ambient sounds on this new Lapsus release! Composer, percussionist, and multidisciplinary artist Rrucculla is undoubtedly one of the most eclectic projects to emerge from Spain in recent times, combining abstraction, plasticity and experimentation with an uncommon mastery. Since her first impact on the electronic "headz" scene with SHuSH [Sound Sketches, 2018], the Basque producer has been carefully distilling her new album Zeru Freq., which will be released on Barcelona's Lapsus record label. The album is wide-ranging, interweaving sound and art that transports the listener into an immersive universe. Zeru Freq. envelops us in a Euskadi environment, guiding us through an open-air museum, containing a collection of eleven sound productions that fuse nature, landscapes and the local climate. This epic musical journey incorporates organic frequencies painted in Technicolor, in which hyper-realistic synthesizer textures merge with acoustic instruments, resulting in an atmospheric ambient sound that warps our perceptions of reality. At a sonic level the unmistakable stamp of Rrucculla is omnipresent, but this time she climbs to even higher plains. Zeru Freq. explores an expanded aural palette, traversing the borders of strictly electronic music, while laying the foundations for a new audio discourse. Throughout its eleven tracks, Rrucculla embraces the broadest spectrum of contemporary music, flirting with avant-garde electronica at will, without succumbing to labels or pigeonholing. Zeru Freq. is the sound of shapes; figures and strokes, it is a work that mutates with each passing moment, until the last note is heard.

On June 16th, 2023, Steven Julien and Kyle Hall return with their first EP together in ten years, Crown. The record follows earlier EPs the duo created under their former alias Funkinevil, 2013's Ignorant and 2012's Night/Dusk. The record once again brings together two artists from opposite sides of the pond—Julien hailing from London and Hall representing Detroit—with a shared love for soul in its purest essence. Opening "Page 1", a pitched-down vocal by James Massiah pronounces, "My plan—won't let you take it from hand." That alone could be considered the nut graph of a record about taking ownership, created by two vanguards in the electronic music scene that, a decade ago, insisted on infusing their music with soul in a commercial club circuit lacking in it. Assembled from a few years-worth of studio jams in Julien's studio, Crown dials up the staticky warmth present on earlier Funkinevil tracks like "Dusk" and "In The Grid." Across seven songs, Funkinevil shaves off some of their tougher elements, instead shooting for pastoral melodies and funky basslines, like on "Page 2", where Vicky Flint's flute flutters sleepily over breaks and a groovy Korg synthesizer. But the atmosphere on the EP is also grander than ever—on "Page 5," Cloud's wistful melisma soars over Flint's bleating saxophone and wandering sci-fi synths. With all this attention to funky musicality, it's only fitting that two legends specializing in the craft would land on the B-side—Däm Funk revs up "Page 3" with a slamming kick and his unmistakable coolness, and Reggie B turns "Page 5" into a sludgy, jazzy dance party. In the words of Julien, "I think a lot of people have forgotten about what this whole thing is about. Musically, artistry and everything. So I'm happy this is what we represent on this project."

Mr. Fingers second part of the Around the Sun series of albums!!! Larry Heard's (under his most notable monniker) continuation on the path from last years "Around the Sun part 1". Encompassing all his influences from Jazz, R&B to Techno and Ambient these lush tracks with a feel that no one else expresses quite like him. No need to further elaborate... Larry Heard at his finest.

Diego Ruiz, aka Dfra, is an Argentine music producer very active in the last five years with several productions in the underground deep house scene. Now he's definitely setting the bar at the highest level with this project. He's introducing a full band of musicians with jazzy roots, and the result is a four-track EP that's a clear fusion of how jazz and electronic music merge in a unique way. It incorporates classic Deep House and House sounds plus the fusion of Modal Jazz, Bebop, and Hard Bop style melodies.

Private Joy?! With a namesake derived from the mighty Prince’s catalogue, and its lustful connotations, Private Joy is the producer of soul band Lovescene and a supreme vocalist of the Manchester scene. With collaborations working with the likes of Ruf Dug, Finn, and Lenzman, a solo EP was inevitable and a statement this is.

Pops Roberts’ first solo EP debuts on Rhythm Section Intl bringing together influences from Streetsoul, 80s ‘babymaker’ RnB records and a slice of 00s soulful house in there for good measure. In just over 18 minutes, Private Joy welcomes you into her world of sensuality and soulful warmth. Musical hugs galore, the production balances synths, harps, saxophones, tight beats and meaningful lyrical content; eschewing millennial whoops for Sade indebted dulcet tones.

Each track draws from personal experience; be it heartbreak or reconnection, an emotional diary conveying the trials and tribulations of love, loss and ultimately, desire.

“Desire has been the drive and beginning of so many decisions, highs and lows in life...” - Private Joy

Contra009. Embark on an auditory voyage through the heart of Detroit's finest dusty crates with "The Vault Vol. 1," a compilation of beats and melodies meticulously crafted by esteemed producer Reggie Dokes.

Dokes unveils a treasure trove of his finest deep house creations, never before released on vinyl. Delve into the hypnotic rhythms, lush harmonies, and pulsating basslines that define Dokes' signature sound, as he seamlessly blends elements of house and soul to create an immersive sonic experience. With "The Vault Vol. 1," Reggie Dokes invites listeners to rediscover the essence of soulful electronic music.

This anthology also features two mesmerizing tracks from his acclaimed 'Napi Hedz' collaboration with Pirahnahead, adding an extra layer of depth and complexity to an already stellar collection.

"BlackFilter is the project of Pellegrino Mazzucchi, a percussionist, DJ, and producer residing in Modena, Italy. Pellegrino became passionate about music at an early age, thanks to the influence of his mother, a Fado singer of Indo-Mozambican descent, and his older brother, a DJ of Latin and World music who encouraged him to study Afro-Cuban percussion. Drums, or "Batuki" (as his mother called them when she was getting mad at him for the continuous rhythm that echoed through the house at all hours of the day), served as Pellegrino's first means of expression. He later expanded his sound palette through experimentation with analog synthesizers and drum machines. The fusion of these elements over time gave birth to the distinctive sound of Black Filter and "Batuki": a dialogue between Afro-Caribbean rhythms and futuristic Jazz with hints of electro and disco, offering the listener a sonic and refreshing sound experience." "Batuki" is out on Ragoo Records.

Skylax Records Proudly Heralds the Return of Quasar to the Label After the Monumental Success of His "Tyrrhenian Dream" 12-Inch—an Homage to the Original Spirit of Early '90s Italian Dream House. Now, Quasar Is Back, Carving the Same Path but With Even Greater Force and Finesse. Enter the Realm of His Latest Creation, the "Lost Memories Ep," a Sonic Journey That Delves Into the Nostalgic Echoes of the Past While Propelling Forward With Renewed Vigor. This 12-Inch Masterpiece Features Four Tracks, Each a Testament to Quasar's Musical Prowess. Embark on the "Downhill Drive," a Captivating Descent Into Rhythmic Landscapes That Echo With the Essence of a Bygone Era. "Bailo Fine Estate" Follows Suit, Weaving a Delicate Tapestry of Beats That Captures the Fleeting Warmth of Summer. "Believe Me" Resonates With a Melodic Sincerity, Inviting Listeners Into a Realm Where Memories Are Etched Into the Very Fabric of the Music. Concluding the Ep Is "Voices From the Sea," a Sonic Exploration of Ethereal Melodies That Beckon From the Depths. Quasar's "Lost Memories Ep" Not Only Continues the Homage to the Roots of Italian Dream House but Does So With Heightened Force and Delicacy. Let Your Turntable Be the Vessel That Transports You Through Time, Immersing Yourself in the Enchanting Allure of Quasar's Sonic Universe. This Ep Stands as a Testament to the Enduring Charm and Magic of Italy's Dream House Phenomenon, Unlocking a World of Sonic Enchantment That Lingers in the Depths of Your Memories....

Robert Matos returns to Ocha with an Afro-jazz house burner feat. the voice of Deep House legend RON Trent reminding us that House Music needs soul. Afro House phenom Carlos Mena drives the message home with his club worthy remix, while Coflo delivers signature percussive deepness with his remix. Tracklisting:

Limited edition coke bottle green vinyl coloured 180g vinyl gatefold double album from Stella Polaris.

The world’s largest free chill out event, Stella Polaris have been wrapping their electronic blanket of dubby and jazzy slo-mo sounds around tens of thousands welcoming bodies since ’97. An oasis of positivity and top-drawer music beaming out of Denmark, with a record label arm born in 2003.

Fast forward 20 years and their 17th album release, a delectable double album features new material from upcoming artists and exclusive Stella Polaris custom made remixes of well-known artists including: Foster The People (us), Groove Armada (uk), José Padilla (es), Underher (ca/de), Days of May (fr), The 2 Bears (uk), Elvstrøm (dk), Teitur & Mads Björn (dk).

After a convincing self-released EP in 2019 and a first introduction on BMM Records with a track feature on the "Groove Dingueries Vol. 1" compilation, Swiss quartet mohs. present their debut album "Mirage", an ode to creativity. Guitarist Erwan Valazza, trumpeter Zacharie Ksyk, bassist Gaspard Colin and drummer Nathan Vandenbulcke distill jazz, hip hop and afrobeat elements in an ocean of blissful synths while keeping a wary eye on the sound texture. From the funky instrumentation surrounding Fang The Great's vocals on "Heartbreaker" to the the nostalgic guitar loops of "Mirage", all the way to the relaxing, almost ambient soundscapes of "Lonely Cowboy", this album will comfort your ears like a warm blanket.

"Resonance" is the latest offering from K15, arriving on 2000Black. Resonance opens with a meditative chord arrangement that gets subtly layered with percussion and programmed drums, creating a song of depth and richness.Within Reach is the most playful track on the record. An uptempo ride, filled with class and flair and demonstrates K15's evolution of ambition and composition. The EP closes with the militant groove that is Resistance. The heavy bass, the wall of synths and the floating shakers create a track pulsing with life. "Resonance" is filled with life and rhythm, making it a fitting addition to the 2000Black catalogue.

Yellow Jackets number 6 pushes things forward with two exceptional pieces by Byron The Aquarius and Deenamic. The modern jazz funk of the american keyboard wizard meets the relentless electronic futuristic programming of the elusive Deenamic! Like Yin and Yang meeting this release fuses the best of both worlds, keeping Yellow Jackets’ now notorious boundaries pushing edge on a phat loud vinyl, only 12’ inch!

Okayama Japan based artist Daisuke Kondo serves up a hearty dose of Detroit inspired soulful house, with a dash of jazzy broken beat on this 4 tracker from Chicago's Jitney Music. This 12" aims straight at the hearts and souls of fans of labels like Sound Signature as well as artists like Dego.

The Mechanical Man is something of a hero amongst deep house heads, so US label Selections are rightly buzzed to have him on board. He opens up with a lively broken beat number lavished with a superb r&b vocal sample and sunny chords on 'Be Down.' He sinks into a more cuddly and smoky house groove on 'Let It Ride' and allows the pensive leads to take over as you head through the stars. 'The Night In The North Area' has a fresh bassline darting about underneath muted chords that bring a Detroit feel. Last of all is the soulful joy of 'You Know It's True', another one with a classic sample smartly worked into a scuffed-up deep house shuffle.

Baby Mammoth’s seventh album, helpfully titled “Seven Up”, was originally released on CD in 2001 by Pork Recordings (Dave ‘Porky’ Brennand and Steve Cobby) who were behind household names “Fila Brazillia” and “Bullitnuts”, pioneering the sound of the late 90s / early 2000s downtempo, ambient, and trip hop scene. In collaboration with Pork Recordings, Seven Up is now being released by Musical Charis on vinyl for the first time. Baby Mammoth mastered the sound of downtempo lounge in this album which has stood the test of time, warranting its re-release. In this album, Baby Mammoth stay true to their traditional funky downtempo course, while the guitar plucks and modulations of “1” certainly make for a joyful listen. "And I'll See You" leans heavily on a vocal sample from Jimmy Scott's “Under the Sycamore Tree” and provides a nice introduction for the swoops in “Baroque 'n' Roll” which drift in on clouds of strings. “Frozen” gets bubblier and "Pink Elephants" gets more spare and groovier with its bongo and flute-driven sensation (a real crowd favourite!). Indeed, they maintain a sense of fun throughout the album, keeping things on the lighter side, driving up the dub reverb on "Deadpool”, or engaging with some vocal snippets on “Frank's Angels”. Baby Mammoth will have you giddy with this release on vinyl.

After the first EP released in 2019 with Mother Tongue label, the French band never stopped reinventing itself. Oscillating between future jazz, house, the alchemy found within the band proves to be quite unstoppable. Whether it’s live or in the studio, the Gin Tonic Orchestra reinvents, innovates and experiments constantly. The idea is to create a live experience that resembles a DJ set, strongly influenced by club culture and jazz. For the first album « Shyance », the collective starts with a cataclysmic intro that introduce « No I Can’t Be Free » which connects Stefania EP to the new album. The other tracks cross Fusion (Shyance), Hisaishi harmonies (Yubaba), DnB (Rage Jaune), Deep House (La Couenne Rance), Cosmic Disco (Crush) and Thrash R&B (Can U Plug My Sm58 Tonight).

Eiji Takehana is an originator of the club jazz scene in Japan and a DJ/producer who continues to lead the scene. After 6 years of silence, the long-awaited release of the latest 7inch single is now available. The sound is ferocious yet precise, the finest jazzy drum'n'bass.

Beijing based Leele, Tokyo based S.O.N and Detroit transplant Camille has come together to give you something soothing from Adeen records. Their debut live studio album A Band Of Brothers is a nice warm welcome from the label that's known for house and techno. The late 70's early 80's Japanese fusion jazz influenced offering is split into two discs with one being all jazz, and disc two being remixed into breezy house tracks. Rather is an easy chilled out vibe or a night on the dancefloor, A Band Of Brother got you covered for all occasions.

Gayance joins forces with Rhythm Section for her debut album ‘Mascarade’ - a swaying dance that moves between poetic, soulful odes to the past, accounts of the Afro-diasporic feminine experience and playfully energetic dance floor grooves.

Mascarade is a collection of dancey, broken rhythms, interwoven with heartfelt stories and bright, unapologetic outpours of joy. In her own words, “It's the story of my 20's. I wanted to pay homage to this kid everybody knew, but not deeply. It's about taking back a power that is mine and was always in my hands...It's about making peace with the past and moving forward”.

Gayance (real name Aïsha Vertus) takes her alias from the Haitian creole word for joyfulness.Based in Amsterdam, born and raised in Montreal-Nord, she started as a DJ in 2013, and has toured the world with shows in Paris, Brooklyn, Marrakech, Berlin, Sao Paulo and more, bringing electrifying and contagious energy wherever she goes.

Her own production is influenced by underground UKG and the respective house scenes of Detroit and New York, with nods to the vivid, sun-soaked colours of Latin America. Shades of blues, jazz and gospel can also be heard in her newest project, pulling together styles from each corner of the world. Following her catalog of entirely self-released projects, Gayance announces her full-length debut album on Rhythm Section, bringing some fellow Montrealers along for the ride.

Initially planned as a trilogy, given the success of this project, the series of 12” EPs featuring reinterpretations of tracks from the album “People Need People” - the brilliant work by Nicola Conte and Gianluca Petrella released in 2021 - closes with this fourth chapter, with the excellent contribution of Fred P. and his Interpretations. Artist, DJ, Producer, Remixer and A/V Designer - born in New York and now living in Berlin - Fred P. has encompassed what it truly means to be an artist in the 21st century. With a discography growing exponentially year after year, he continues to push forward in his sound and his mind. These two new interpretations of his constitute a little jewel in which Fred P. offers us a skilful blend where afro, jazz and house music create a cosmic spiritual journey at times nocturnal, suitable for the most sophisticated dance floors - in both cases with different rhythmic patterns, broken-afro for “African Spirits” and cosmic-house for “Tribes”, Fred creates here an open space, deep and simply at the centre of the music!

Highly active in the electronic music scene in South Korea, Livigesh releases his 6th official album "303 Romance" via No Slack Records. Livigesh has immersed himself into acid house, 90's hiphop and 70's funk music while making "303 Romance." His extensive use of the 303 "acid" basslines are present throughout the album. "303 Romance" is a look into Livigesh's musical influences. Squelching acidic and funky basslines, breakbeats and abstract vocal samples present Livigesh in his most uplifting, playful and simple to date.

Heller Tag is the debutalbum of Berlin-based jazz collective Conic Rose.
The young musicians come from the most diverse musical backgrounds: their other projects include names such as arena-filling German pop stars Clueso or Samy Deluxe but also Jazz legends such as Michael Wollny or Joy Denalane.

What connects them is their love to explore, create, redefine and effortlessly move between abstraction and accessibility, high quality sound and the beauty of the imperfect - interweaving electronic elements, cinematic jazz, vibey soundscapes and hints of art rock with eclectic, zeitgeisty influences.
Their releases so far as well as the few shows they played on the back of their debut EP (2020) exceeded all expectations, attracting the attention of industry professionals all the way from the UK or USA.

All songs are written, recorded and produced by Conic Rose in their own recording studio in the Wedding neighbourhood of Berlin.

Released for the first time in CD and Digital format in 2017 this is the sixth album by Luca Trevisi LTJ Xperience It contains some of his most played songs such as Get Down, Let There Be Groove, Put Me Down and the one that gives the title to the album Beggar Groove here in its two versions. The release is in a limited edition double album on White vinyl. Luca LTJ Trevisi (ltj Xperience) trained as a producer DJ in the late 1980s. Resident first at the Kinki Club in Bologna and then at Cap Creus in Imola, he is one of the first Italian DJs to program house and above all to re-propose Black Music, Jazz and Latin Bossa, all the genres that then over time gave way to Acid Jazz and Nu Jazz. He began his work as an artist and producer with Irma Records and in the 90s also his activity as an international DJ who saw him play at the Blue Note and the Jazz Café in London, at the Giant Steps in New York and at the Jazz Festival in Montreaux.

Jeremy Blake (Red Means Recording) and MTN (FULLSET Music) present their love letter to Teenage Engineering's OP-1 Synth. Featuring 8 tracks and 35 minutes of playing time full of freehand arranged synth waveforms and samples. This release is strictly limited to 230 pieces!

“Marombo” is a new track written, arranged and produced by Gerardo Frisina, that anticipates his forthcoming album, called “Moving Ahead” and scheduled for February 2020. Here “Marombo” has been especially divided in two parts, to be featured in this 12” EP.
“Moving Ahead” suggests another change in Gerardo’s style, a solid step into the future to explore new music territories without compromising his original identity and trademark. “Marombo” is in fact a mixture of nu-latin and electronic beats with Afro-Cuban rhythm into a massive dancefloor groove!
This new song sees the participation of Gerardo’s longtime collaborators Ernesto Lopez on drums and percussion and Alfonso Deidda on baritone saxophone.The result is a perfect blend between deep, Detroit afro-dub dance with a massive groove perfect for the dancefloor. As always Gerardo amazes us with his unique touch. Absolutely not to be missed!!!

As we head towards the end of 2019, the CoOp Presents crew unleash a heater for the cold months, and a very warm welcome to the label for Danvers, with an EP entitled 'Light Movements'.
Joe Danvers has been building a diverse catalogue of dance music over the past several years, including releases on FINA Records, Boogie Cafe and Wotnot (his debut release also featured mixes from the likes of Joe Armon-Jones & Warren Xcince). Aside from his solo efforts, Danvers makes up 50% of Kassian, who in turn have dropped releases on Phonica White & Heist Recordings, as well as a series of highly-acclaimed remixes. Their debut track 'The Premise' was nominated as "Track of the Year" at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards.
These various projects have been shown support far and wide from selectors such as Bradley Zero and Detroit Swindle, whilst Danvers & Kassian have been booked for parties across Europe this past Summer. Danvers is also co-founder of Curve Records, along with Luke Campion & Mike Wilkin of Fact / Vinyl Factory.
So to the EP - 4-tracks demonstrating Danvers' flair for eclectic bruk boogie. 'Devotional' kicks off the set, featuring the soulful vocals of Natalie May atop a rhode-laden bubbler. The EP's title track 'Light Movements' follows and is a more stripped-down affair, with big kicks and synth stabs. Next comes 'The Flex', inspired by Selectors Assemble runnings - a tasty stepper with a huuuuge b-line. Finally closing out the EP on a deeper jazzy vibe we have 'Calmer' featuring the don T. Williams.
Expect more big things from Danvers and from the CoOp Presents crew in 2020. In the meantime, get this one on your speakers and watch for the movements. Standardly essential business.

Eraldo Bernocchi is SIMM – one of the originators of Dark Hop. The Italian musician and producer has worked with Harold Budd, Mick Harris, Bill Laswell, and Robin Guthrie, and is a versatile, masterful studio composer, as well as a renowned live performer and improviser. Odessa’s Medium (Igor Oklander, Pavel Kostyuk, and DJ Koss) are the newest sensation out of Ukraine in the world of drum & bass. Their technical production ability and live drum & bass show are unmatched in the current era. Nailed is a classic, black silk creeper, a film noire dungeon score sound. Eraldo’s distantly familiar horrorscore guitars are backed with a stomping broken beat, and the deepest, darkest sub to be found in the genre. Nailed is SIMM at the height of Bernocchi’s dark power – crawling, surveilling, hunting. No Questions is what it says it is on the wrapper – an absolute mauling 2018 dark hop MONSTER – without question. The crew has cooked up a bass drop of titantic, megalithic proportions, which must be heard to be believed! Stepping out of their normative drum & bass format, they play with the notion of half time drum & bass, while keeping it 100% dark hop tempo. Limited Edition Print by Petullia Mattioli

More copies back in! "LIVE TEST" is a muscular breaks track full of menace and driving beats. A hit with Z-TRIP, MARK RAE, DJ VAJRA, FLETCH, etc. when it dropped in 2009. The flipside is a dubbed up remix of "DEMONS" by FARM FRESH's TIM SMITH. Dope. Last copies available.

Release no. 1 on Rapscallion brings 3 ridiculous broken reworks that are sure to raise an eyebrow or two. We’re not being told who in particular is responsible for such goodness here but rest assured an accomplished veteran must be at the helm for sure...

“The second About Group recording for Treader,this time replacing Charles Hayward with Rupert Clervaux. His elegant drumming takes the group into new territories which together with Coxon’s simple and insistent guitar themes forms a regular backbone for four extended group compositions containing a surprising collision of sounds and influences. Pat Thomas, with his background in free jazz and improv, and Susumu Mukai, more commonly heard in the company of Floating Points, make strange bedfellows with Alexis Taylor’s mooger-foogered rhodes, but somehow it all crystallises perfectly.The clearest precedent for this engaging recording is Ege Bamyasi era Can,but really it occupies a position of its own…”

Hot Chip frontman Alexis originally presented these recordings on Treader in 2008- his debut solo recording. Finally available on LP, this set of intimately recorded, bespoke songs and instrumentals is dedicated to his partner, Keri Darn. Charming and Disarming.

Deep jazz & hip hop meet on "DAYS PAST", a new LP from THE PETER FRANKS GROUP. Produced by SIMON S, "DAYS PAST" incorporates a lush, live vibe with hard drums, deep basslines, organic keys & standout solos alongside dusty samples. Remixes include stellar work from QUIET DAWN,BUSCRATES & MECCA:83.

Sound Signature celebrates 20 years with an LP from Dego & Kaidi.

Step Time Orchestra was the collaborative work of producers Jori Hulkkonen and Toumas Salmela, who began producing music together in the nineties whilst studying in Oulu, Finland. Whilst all their friends would be getting up early to go to university, they would only just be going to bed, having spent the night listening to house records from New York, drinking Whiskey and programming their MPC 2000!
Step Time produced a slew of tracks during this time, some of which were licensed and pressed on 12" singles during the late nineties/early noughties on labels operating in North America and Europe, but not everything they made saw the light of day. Heavily influenced by labels like Ibadan and Spiritual Life Music at the height of the New York House Scene, 'Jazz Error NYC' and '2am in Africa' were never signed, not fitting the profile of their other releases at the time, they were left in the drawer and sadly forgotten!
Skip forward to Winter 2016, and FBNM's Lorenzo, whilst over on a DJ excursion, visits Jori in Finland. Keen to keep working together, he presses him for something uniquely special. Magically, the Ajos E.P jumps out of the drawer into Hulkkonen's hand, and as it turns out, it has aged with a rather remarkable grace. Written using a combination of MPC sequencing and an Atari ST powering vanilla Cubase for some midi programming duties, it features the sounds of the Italian made Siel Opera 6, an Alesis S4 Rompler and other vintage Roland, Yamaha and Kawai Synths. They went full out on this one, even finally learning to play keys for that jazzy piano action. It was recorded live through a soundcraft analog board with outboard Fx, creating a sound that transcended it's time to feel remarkably fresh today!
The Ajos EP is named after an area in their native city of Kemi, Northern Finland, which is where they wrote and produced it in 1999.

The release comes on 180g vinyl. For the second 12” of the series we’ve enlisted two of the most on-fire producers in Germany: Max Graef and Glenn Astro, along with one of the UK’s brightest ascendant producers. Back fighting, kicking and beating as strong as or perhaps even stronger than ever before, Ivan ‘Mamao’ Conti is releasing a brand new solo album next year. Now fitted with a new iron hip- thanks to the immense generosity of his fan base who crowdfunded the operation – the Azymuth drummer still remains one of the greatest and outright funkiest drummers alive anywhere in the universe as he enters this new bionic era. As people of earth are not yet quite ready to hear the explosively ethereal cosmic samba of his new album just yet, we’re easing into it with a series of appropriately propulsive percussive jazz-headed remixes. For the second 12” of the series we’ve enlisted two of the most on-fire producers in Germany: Max Graef and Glenn Astro, along with one of the UK’s brightest ascendant producers.