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w on Born Bad Records! French elektronica outfit Zombie Zombie is fifteen years old now, or 90 years in group-years (multiply by six: more than a cat, less than a dog). That would have been enough to rest on their laurels, with an Old Fashioned in each hand. But no: they went for full-on fat and a reverberated doomy elektro orgy. This time some choirwork hints at the arrangements of David Axelrod or Ennio Morricone, but still here's everything we love about Zombie Zombie, starting with their musical know-how, and the trio's musical tastes, which covers 95% of the styles listed by Discogs. Decidedly, Vae Vobis is not your average 122 bpm banger party soundtrack, although we are looking forward to seeing what DJs can do with Nusquam and Ubique" on a drunk crowd in tie-and-dye gowns. It's a well-balanced alum, worth listening to in one go, to let each trap-of-a-track work its magic. E.g. Ring Modulus, which, under its strong structure, houses extended-vocal-technique ornaments. Or Aurora, a megalomaniac jewel cut to open the circus games, the brass section of Dr Schönberg and Etienne Jaumet plays it peplum style. But let your ears marvel at Dissolutum, Consortium and the remainig tracks as well. Also digging backwards in the italo-disco crates, Zombie Zombie ended up in antiquity. As a result, they sing in Latin. Not the godforsaken mumbo-jumbo of the new age band era. Proper Latin, borrowed at Erasmus, by hiring a neo-Latinist to sequence the adages neatly. Until now, Zombie Zombie mostly pushed the song for covers (Iggy Pop, Sun Ra or New Order). For this new album, they built long harmonic progressions, along which sing Angele Chemin, a soprano familiar with contemporary music, and Laura Etchegoyhen, Swiss army knife of Basque origin. You know it, even if you haven't worn out your bottoms on the pews of a church: Latin sings well. "We wanted to remain mysterious, to send cryptic messages, to dive back into a language from another time, like the copyist monks of the Middle Ages". And like their hooded ancestors, they do whatever they want with the text, and add porn illuminations in the corners, for those who know how to listen closely. Riyl: John Carpenter, Cliff Martinez, Trentemoller, Darkside, Zombi, Goblin, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, 80s Synthwave, Soundtracks, Elektro Including forthcoming singles "Nusquam et Unique", "Consortium" & "War is coming"

She may be making her first appearance on NuNorthern Soul, but Zeynep Erbay is no newcomer. A classically trained pianist who took a turn towards the dancefloor while at university, the Turkish DJ/producer earned her first release on Compost Records way back in 2007 after taking part in 2006’s Red Bull Music Academy programme. Since then, her career has been on an upwards trajectory, with releases on Fools Gold and Soul Clap Records confirming Erbay as a genuine rising star of underground electronic music. On the Healer EP, the Istanbul-based producer showcases the more atmospheric, sun-kissed end of her productions, taking a turn away from synth-powered, disco-leaning club tracks towards something more suitable for al-fresco events, sun-down sets, and sofa-bound listening sessions. Inspired by a poem inscribed on the back cover of the EP, Erbay’s two original instrumental tracks simply ooze with emotion. The poem tells the story of a whale searching for her family while helping others along the way, which acts as a metaphor for our wider search for belonging and acceptance. This aural narrative unfolds firstly across ‘Heart of a Healer’, a slowly unfurling stunner in which emotion-rich chords, gentle electronic melodies and Erbay’s poignant and picturesque piano motifs, gently rise above a chunky dub disco bassline and mid-tempo, triple-time drums. Delving further, the effortlessly emotional, life-affirming composition ‘Healer Whale’, where Erbay’s impeccable piano playing ushers in languid, jazz-flecked drums, dubby bass, sumptuous synth-strings and colourful, slow-moving chords. On remix dutires, NYC-based Italian Danilo Braca, who also mastered the release, provides a fine club-focused fix of ‘Heart of a Healer’, laced with crunchy machine drums and undulating Tb-303 acid lines. NuNorthern Soul regular Marshall Watson handles ‘Healer Whale’, first delivering a fine ‘Remix’ version that effortlessly blurs the boundary between dub disco and Balearic nu-disco, before serving up a shorter, ambient ‘Reprise’ version.

Years of Denial’s ‘Suicide Disco Vol. 2’ album is receiving a well-deserved remix treatment from some of the dearest and most important artists in their circle. Featuring The Hacker, Never & Maenad Veyl, Phase Fatale, Kris Baha, Velvet May and Codex Empire, some of the most influential figures in the genre are offering their unique takes on their favorite tracks from the album.

Grammy-Winning Sound Engineer Steven Stanley Transforms Yasushi Ide's "Cosmic Suite 2" into an Ethereal Cosmic Disco Dub Masterpiece

Yasushi Ide, the Japanese Street Music Icon Unleashed "Cosmic Suite 2" in a Revolutionary Blend of Genres.
Yasushi Ide, the revered figure in Japanese street music, has recently unveiled his latest musical opus titled "Cosmic Suite 2," a rebel music masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of musical genres. This groundbreaking album features collaborations with esteemed pioneers including Afrika Bambaataa, Don Letts, Josh Millan, Jeff Mills, DJ Krush, Tony Allen, and more. By transcending the limitations of time, genre, and even mortality, Ide has crafted a truly unique and eclectic street music experience unlike anything seen before.
Notably, Ide enlisted the expertise of Grammy-winning sound engineer Steven Stanley to embark on the reconstruction of "Cosmic Suite 2" using his renowned dub mix techniques. The outcome of this collaboration is the birth of "Dr. Steven Stanley Meets Yasushi Ide - Cosmic Disco Dub," a mesmerizing rendition that showcases the genius of both artists.
Hailing from Jamaica, Steven Stanley is a highly regarded sound engineer and producer whose illustrious career spans several decades, primarily in the realms of reggae, dub, and rock music. Having worked with acclaimed acts such as Talking Heads, Black Uhuru, and Tom Tom Club, Stanley has solidified his status as a living legend within the industry. His contributions to Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love" and his Grammy-winning work on Black Uhuru's "Anthem" further exemplify his unparalleled expertise. Additionally, Stanley has collaborated with notable artists including Grace Jones and B-52's.
In "Dr. Steven Stanley Meets Yasushi Ide - Cosmic Disco Dub," Stanley expertly integrates elements from the original "Cosmic Suite 2" tracks, employing his unique dubbing techniques to enhance the sonic experience. Through the addition of his signature dubby reverb and other distinctive sound manipulations, Stanley elevates the album to an entirely new dimension.
"The Battle" Transformed into an Enchanting Disco Dub Experience, Infused with Stanley's Horn Section Effects for a smoky ambience.

In the mesmerizing track "Galactic Beats," the legendary Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen's powerful drums take center stage. Skillfully applying his dub effects, Stanley adds vibrant layers and new dimensions to the composition, further enhancing its sonic palette.
Another standout is the dub version of "LAVA," featuring acclaimed Japanese singer UA. The track, which was already a fan favorite in its original form, undergoes a remarkable transformation in this dub rendition, further accentuating its appeal.

"Outer Space" Transcends Time and Genre with a Dream Collaboration Between the Late Legendary Reggae Drummer Style Scott and Japan's Turntablist Extraordinaire, DJ Krush. While the original track exudes a stoic and deep cosmic dub essence, Stanley ingeniously reimagines it as a nostalgic old-school dancehall masterpiece.

"Sumimasen" is a track that exemplifies Stanley's mastery, where the unique Japanese word "Sumimasen" (meaning "I'm sorry") is transformed into a psychedelic and deeply immersive dub journey. The track features captivating echoes on the vocals and twisted synth elements, transporting listeners to a cosmic realm of sonic exploration.
Furthermore, it is crucial to highlight "Hear, There, and Beyond," a collaboration between Yasushi Ide, Kan Takagi, the pioneering figure of Japanese hip-hop, and RECK, the bassist from the legendary punk rock band FRICTION. This reconstructed version takes the original track to unprecedented heights. With a remarkable shift to tribal drums in the midst of the song, the energy intensifies, resulting in a wild and exhilarating musical experience.
The reconstruction of this album evokes memories of Mad Professor's "No Protection," a renowned dub reconstruction of Massive Attack's work that remains an enduring masterpiece in the genre. With its exceptional craftsmanship and artistic vision, "Dr. Steven Stanley Meets Yasushi Ide - Cosmic Disco Dub" has the potential to be regarded as another timeless dub reconstruction masterpiece, solidifying its place in music history.

Best known to funk / groove collectors for his 70's library efforts (Freezing Point, The Pop World Of Yann Tregger, Schifters, Catchy, Ducks & Drakes) on such cult labels as L'Illustration Musicale, MTS or Montparnasse 2000 or his late funky disco output via projects like Major Symphony or M.B.T. Soul; french trumpet player / composer /arranger Yann Tregger also devoted time and efforts to delve into electronic sound abstraction when needed. Based around the possibilities of the legendary ARP 2600 synthesizer, To The Land Of No Return was an outrageous and nightmarish collection of sound vignettes that pushed the instrument's capabilities to the limit. Thrilling, uneasy, surreal, spellbinding or just plain spaced out - an album "whose theme is the departure of a psychedelic train on a trip with no return to a lost world, leading its only passenger to unreal adventures" according to composer's words. An essential slice of musical lunacy coming from the most experimental fringes of the french library world!

First time ever reissued on vinyl, remastered from the original tapes in a gimmick cover and a limited edition of only 500 copies!

Ya Tosiba is a Berlin-based duo producing bass-heavy riddims with energetic female vocals. On the mic we have Zuzu Zakaria, the versatile singer who uses mainly found, historical lyrics in her mother tongue Azeri. On synths and drum machines we have Mesak.

The Wrekin Crew is back for a seance outing on the peerless Is It Balearic? This new offering rather continues where the first one left off with two tracks of immersive sonics for sunny days. First up is 'Vapour Trails' which melds lush Italo disco melodies and nice emotinoal pop of the sort you would expect to hear in this duo's DJ sets. Goldsuite also step up with a remix to smooth the edges and lay down moon-lit Balearica then closer 'Broken Wings' has more meaningful vocals but this time over grooves more suited to a late-night setting. Cosmic arps finish it in style with plenty of dubby undercurrents.

Willie Williams" seminal "No One Can Stop Us Now" is a cover of Ashford and Simpson"s soul/disco classic "Ain"t No Stopping Us Now", and is simply one of the greatest, most soulful reggae/disco cuts ever made and is the latest in the series of Limited Edition 12"s of all-time Classic Studio One party bombs available on super loud 12". First released on Studio One in 1979, this party anthem features the sublime keyboards of Jackie Mittoo alongside the awesome studio group, The Brentford All Stars (here working under the name The Brentford Disco Set).

Cover with bumped corner and beginning of seam split on top spine.

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the release of "TOUCH," a selection of sought-after tracks produced by Yuji Ohno, one of the most revered producers and arrangers on the Nippon music scene. His blend of Jazz, Space Funk and Disco have long been highly sought-after by DJs around the world and we"ve been given unique access to the Nippon Columbia vaults and to Mr. Ohno himself to come with a versatile selection from his 70s body of work, all bearing his uniquely recognisable sound. The set includes works with singers Nanako Sato, Hatsumi Shibata and Ken Tanaka alongside tracks from his cult anime soundtracks for "Lupin Iii" and "Captain Future." Approved by Yuji Ohno himself, "Touch" was remastered in Tokyo by Nippon Columbia and features liner notes by Nick Luscombe in conversation with the maestro and artwork by Optigram"s Manuel Sepulveda.

German New Wave Funk 1979 - 1983 Compilation originally released 2003 on Gomma records. A very special compilation. 8 edits and reworks of rare German New Wave Funk and Disco Punk.

After the success of volume 1 (2020), the label run by Simona Faraone and the Roman collective Kuro Jam relaunch with Kimera Mendax Volume 2 Double EP, a limited edition double colored vinyl (300 copies) that consolidates the “disco-graphic” collaboration between the two realities (nim / Kuro Jam Recordings).

The record accompanies the release of the final chapter of the homonymous cyberpunk comics saga and represents its original soundtrack.

Kimera Mendax is the title of the debut graphic novel of the team Kuro Jam, composed by the artists Enrico Carnevale (Inkiostro, Markosia), Mattia De Iulis (Marvel), Giulia D'Ottavi(Manfont), Stefano Garau (Editions Glénat, Mondadori), and by the screenwriter Gianluca Pernafelli.

The comic tells the story of a group of rebels who, from the underground of an esoteric Rome of the future (2048), struggle to neutralize the KX bio-operative system, a sort of invasive and all-encompassing social network, to which humanity is connected through robotic appendages. Vinyl records are the instrument of struggle for the “disconnected”: they try using music to awaken the natural human vibrations, atrophied by the massive use of technology. The final battle is a spectacular and liberating “sonic tsunami” in the heart of the Eternal City, a journey for the eyes... and the ears!

On the pages of the two volumes, there are tributes and quotes to Gurdjieff, Aphex Twin, Giordano Bruno, Lory D, and the underground rave culture of the early 90s, with a particular reference to the London scene.

In continuity with the EP KM vol.1, eight Italian musicians with different sensibilities were involved to make their interpretation and sound reinforcement of the story. This time the tracklist is truly cinematic, spanning across the four sides of the two colored vinyl records - on the labels, we find the two alchemical principles of Salt and Sulfur, in addition to Mercury that was used for the label of the first EP - flowing in 8 acts without solution of continuity, enriched by a Prelude and 4 Interludes that draw on the noises, music, and voices of the city of Rome.

The A Side begins with the Prelude, where a robotic voice introduces us to the KX bio-operating system, but it's silenced by strange disturbing frequencies: the “antisystem” sonic journey can begin. The first track of the disc is Massimo Amato's rarefied and dreamy “Later That Night”, followed by the dissonant “Antimente” by visual artist Tiziano Lucci, preceded by the screech of seagulls flying over the city of Rome in the first Interlude.

The B Side opens with a track by Milan based producer Giona Vinti (Hyena), inspired by one of the key characters from the comic: “Talamo, o la Memoria”. The second Interlude transports us into the electro-futurist dimension of T / Error with the solid “kx2048”. The third Interlude closes the side with the announcements -partly sampled, partly reconstructed - of the roman subway, imagining that in 2048 there will be alternative routes, passing through the Colosseum station.

The C Side explodes with the massive “Cyb(Moth)er” by Mattia Trani, with his electro-alias 051 Destroyer, who gives us an electro-techno pearl with drexciyane shades inspired by the character of Falena. MA Spaventi dedicates his liquid and melancholic "Tevere (Somewhere in Rome)” to the river, an emblem of the Roman metropolis, which incorporates recordings of the tenuous city watercourse.

In the D Side, we reach the emotional climax of the soundtrack. The brothers Fabrizio and Marco D'Arcangelo, masters of the IDM / Braindance scene, are inspired by the epic and kaleidoscopic battle of the latest comic strips for their glowing "Dive Reverse Universe Edit". The fourth Interlude is dominated by the distant melody of an accordion - the magic touch, here as in the oud of Interlude II, is provided by Greek musician Maria Arampatzi - which anticipates the theme of the only proper "song" of the record, "Orizzonti Perfetti". The song, co-produced with Halfcastle and masterfully interpreted by the powerful and unmistakable voice of NicoNote, lends the definitive missing piece to an articulated, complex, ambitious..., and a little crazy musical and visual project: the first original soundtrack of a graphic novel!

The record is a new, colorful, unmissable collector's art object, made precious by the gatefold cover signed by international star Elena Casagrande, Marvel and DC Comics designer - 2021 Eisner Award winner for her “Black Widow”! - and conceived as a maxi comic composed of boards signed by the artists of the Kuro Jam collective.

The third and concluding edition of the Transmissions compilation series curated by IOJ Jura Soundsystem. The compilation focuses once again on rarities no longer available on Vinyl and touches upon Reggae & Dub, Ambient House, Downtempo and Leftfield Disco. Mixmaster Morris in his Irresistible Force guise opens the album with the Ambient Electronica of ‘Lotus Position’, a long time favourite that’s been unavailable on Vinyl for nearly 30 years. Full Moon Scientist pick up the Ambient Dub baton with ‘Lunar Base Dub’ segueing into Australia’s Rude Band, featuring Oz radio royalty Doug Mulray on the aptly titled ‘Doug’s Dub’ originally released on Oz Sounds in Australia in 1982, a true Balearic gem recorded long before the genre had been widely discovered. Other highlights include Mary House’s ‘Ambient’, a chuggy slo-mo piano houser originally the last track on a 7 track EP released in 1991 on Italian label Technology, and ‘Do It’, an obscure South African track by Inspiration which covers the music from Sylvester’s ‘I Need Somebody To Love Tonight’ paired with new vocals using the refrain ‘Do It’. Jean-Michel Bertrand gave his blessing to a special Jura Soundsystem version of ‘Dream Reggae’ which features long time collaborator Mike Burn adding lead and rhythm guitar to an extended edit of the song. The album closes with some Ambient Tools which should serve to raise a smile at the end of the series.

In the past years, the multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and music enthusiast Jeff Özdemir had been focusing on organising the Live-Mixtape series in Berlin, inviting numerous artists to join him on stage for every single event. However, the year 2020 put an end to this for all the painfully obvious and obviously painful reasons. Undeterred, he instead put together the third instalment of the »Jeff Özdemir & Friends« series, working with singers, musicians and groups such as Knarf Rellöm & DJ Patex, F.S. Blumm, Joanna Gemma Auguri, Elke Brauweiler and Elmer Kussiac for an 18-track … Now, is this a compilation or an artist album? Well, why just either this or that when it can just be both at once? This is »Jeff Özdemir & Friends Vol. 3« after all, emphasis on »&«.

Released on Karaoke Kalk like its two predecessors from the years 2015 and 2017, respectively, »Jeff Özdemir & Friends Vol. 3« sees the man behind Kreuzberg’s 33rpm record store and the 33rpm Records label showcase his qualities as a people remixer, songwriter and versatile musician. He put together a collection of groovy tunes picking up on funk and afrobeat rhythms, introspective ballads, a musically channeled punk attitude, shoegaze sentiments, spoken word passages, drones, glockenspiel sounds, seriously fun experimentation and much more. Just like on the cover artwork - courtesy of Marion Eichmann, Özdemir’s favourite visual artist - everything here seems to discreetly exist for itself while being tightly connected to everything else at same time.

While artists like Ertan Doğancı, Désolé Léo, eng°n, F.S. Blumm and Zap have been long-term collaborators of Özdemir and were featured on previous instalments of the »Jeff Özdemir & Friends« series, new faces and forces also enter the mix. The melancholic »Love Letters« for example marks the first (though hopefully not last) collaboration with singer Joanna Gemm Auguri, while Knarf Rellöm & DJ Patex’s appearance has been dreamt of collectively but hasn’t been fully realised until now.

Whether it’s Désolé Léo’s French crooner soul, the lo-fi synth pop song »Bored« featuring former Commercial Breakup singer Elke Brauweiler or the many different sounds and styles presented under the name Jeff Özdemir: no decision is ever made between either that or this musical direction, but all are being joyfully enjoyed together. Thus, throughout its 70 minutes, the stylistic diversity of »Jeff Özdemir & Friends Vol. 3« does not once border on randomness. Instead, these sometimes very different songs are marked by a shared atmosphere - a direct result of these very different musicians approaching their studio time together less as a chance to make music but more of a chance to carefully listen to and interact with each other.

Just like you’d expect it from someone deeply connected with the local music community who also happens to run a record store, Özdemir is also the kind of person who’ll hand you the worn copy of a record he has just fished out from the bargain bin because he knows about its potential to change your life. The contributions by Vackrow (»Kleistpark«), Gebrüder Teichmann’s old band BeigeGT (»Disco«), and Otto von Bismarck (»Zu viele Erinnerungen«, produced by The Whitest Boy Alive’s Daniel Nentwig) do not even feature Özdemir, but are simply musical pearls that were (almost) lost in the shuffle of music history and unearthed for this very special occasion. That’s just what friends do, don’t they?

In Trux We Pux is an editorial project organized by the Porto based label and collective Favela Discos. Focusing on the city’s thriving experimental and improvised music scene, it sets out to portrait in a series of four volumes some of the characteristic sounds and collaborative practices that have been in development in Porto during the last few years.

In Trux We Pux 04 is the last in a series of four records organized by Favela Discos, set out to shine a light on Porto’s thriving experimental and improvised music scene. Throughout the collection the label tries to expose the eclectic sound and collaborative practices that have been in development in the last few years in the city by promoting the collaboration between artists and the creation of new collective improvisation pieces.

As the first album dwelled into the electronic spectre of the scene, this volume veers itself to the physical side of experimental and improvised explorations. Although there is space for outsiders manipulating the sound by electronic means, most of the music in this album is plucked, bowed, percussed or sung. The artists themselves are as varied as the music they played, among the 13 artists that collaborated for the creation of this album are many promising newcomers but also some of the more recognizable and relevant names in the scene, with the presence of the Sonoscopia founder Gustavo Costa, João Pais Filipe one of the most characteristic drummers in Portugal, and the DIY duo and underground staple Calhau!.

As we could suspect, the diverse selection of musicians, while providing us a view on the various kinds of musical languages that populate the city’s scene, also creates a dynamic collection of sounds. Spanning a large gamut of sub-sub-genres, from near-musique concrète to tribal noise, the album is a rollercoaster collage that miraculously achieves logic and cohesion, like a voyeur listener taking us on a journey through an abandoned mall where most of the bands in Porto rehearse, whose halls reverberate with a cacophony of music.

In Trux We Pux is an editorial project organized by the Porto based label and collective Favela Discos. Focusing on the city’s thriving experimental and improvised music scene, it sets out to portrait in a series of four volumes some of the characteristic sounds and collaborative practices that have been in development in Porto during the last few years.

In Trux We Pux 01, the first record of the collection, is focused on the electronic side of the eclectic but characteristic experimental and improvised scene in Porto, and contains a selection of 23 musicians that have been developing their own take on whatever niche genre they dwell in. Among the list of musicians are Filipe Silva (hhy & The Macumbas), Crónica Electrónica’s heads @c, ocp, coletivo vandalismo and several others that populate a thriving scene that spans a wide gamut of sounds, from delicate to abrasive.

As the tracks themselves, the different approaches to composition and production add to this compilation’s schizophrenia. The first side of the record offers us a spacious and abstract scenery, starting with a collage of field recordings, banjos, and fans, narrated by google translate’s voice. The following two tracks flow along the granular tide of ambient spaces and atmospheres slowing down a bit before the second side turns around 180º and heads towards more rhythmic fields.

Coletivo vandalismo & querido lider present us with their exploration of half balearic, half german-synth-music pulsing away at the beat of broken down dancehallish drums and reggae breaks. Challenger & Lorr No’s track is a trainwreck heading down a break driven jungle that lead us to the album’s closing arguments: Moscxs’ sludged beat goth-step exploration around the poem “Poema Agreste” by Glória de Sant’Anna.

When David Bowie and Iggy Pop relocated from LA to continental Europe, taking trains to Berlin, Paris and Warsaw, they would have come across new music that was very different to the burgeoning disco scene they left behind. “Cafe Exil” – named after one of Bowie’s favourite Berlin haunts – imagines the soundtrack that would have informed “Low”, “Heroes” and “Lodger”. It’s an awesome mix of electronica, Krautrock and experimental treats.

There are key tracks from members of Can and Tangerine Dream, fascinating obscurities by German act Streetmark and Italian library maestro Piero Umiliani, the Herzog-soundtracking Popul Vuh, and highly collectible avant-strangeness by Annette Peacock. Czech-born Jan Hammer’s beautiful, light, atmospheric groove is among myriad surprises.

“Cafe Exil” has been put together by Saint Etienne’s Bob Stanley and Jason Wood, author of multiple books on cinema and programmer at Home in Manchester. It fits in with other recent Ace compilations such as “English Weather” and “76 In The Shade” – it creates a mood, a time and a place. You’re right there, sat next to Bowie, drinking his Pernod and black, in a darkly lit Berlin bar.

This 2LP set features a bonus track from Edgar Froese.

2023 edition with new artwork and sleeve. Come with insert/liner notes.

"Welcome to the America Dream Reserve, home to husband & wife duos, pub legends, one-man-bands, preachers’ sons, and country-lounge entertainers..."

About: America Dream Reserve is a home for kindred souls. An hour-long journey into the world of lo-fi drumcomputer folk, disco-pop-lounge, haunting ballads, obscure vanity pressings, and synthesized string ensembles. A collaborative compilation between Charles Bals, creator of the inimitable Club Meduse, and Smiling C.

Compiled by: Charles Bals & Henry Jones.

Generally considered the most avant-garde and surreal auditory experience within Ulver's extensive catalogue. House of Mythology is thrilled to announce the exclusive 2024 reissue of Ulver's essential 2001 EPs, Silence Teaches You How to Sing and Silencing the Singing, now available together on one Double LP. This remastered (by Jaime Gomez Arellano) special edition boasts entirely new artwork by the highly talented + wolframgrafik aka Paschalis Zervas.Maintaining the high-quality standards you've come to expect, this release features two 180- gram vinyl records presented in a durable 350gsm gatefold sleeve. For added protection, each record is placed in white poly-lined disco bags and packaged outside the sleeve to avoid seam splits, with everything wrapped up in a plastic sleeve. As frosting, it comes with an insert and a collection of four postcards, containing original and new photography. 1A: Silence Teaches You How to Sing Pt. 11B: Silence Teaches You How to Sing Pt. 22A: Darling, Didn't We Kill You?2B: Speak Dead Speaker2C: Not Saved

Les Disques du Crepuscule presents Signals Into Space, a brand new studio album by acclaimed electronic duo Ultramarine. SIS is their seventh album, having debuted on Crepuscule back in 1990.

Tyler Pope's latest EP is an absolute belter, and the primary concern these four tracks are asking of you is right up front: Pay Attention to the Bass. And, honestly, with a sense low-end like what's on display here, how could you not? This new release from Pope-a dance veteran who's also known as a full-time member of LCD Soundsystem as well as a collaborator with artists like Hercules & Love Affair and Pantha Du Prince-arrives on his always eclectic Interference Pattern label, an imprint that has previously spanned left-field electronic sounds, noise rock, and avant-R&B. As such, Pay Attention to the Bass is anything but straightforward, with ricocheting rhythms and alluring textures that are as easy to get lost in as they are to move your body to.

Listeners familiar with last year's Make Each Other Happy EP, which embraced dark disco grooves and crisp percussion, will be delighted at the new curveballs on display here: "Why Must I" euphorically merges the propulsive charge of UK funky with delicious piano-house stabs, while "OKay" anchors itself around a rubbery bass line like a lost cut from the Remain In Light sessions. The flip side gets dark and dank with it, as "Close the Door" echoes with spooky clatter and dubby wobbles before sprightly vibes break through-and the closing cut "Where r they Hiding" goes full-on tunnel techno with it, conjuring a mood that recalls the haunted house music of Sandwell District as well as the cold-sweat futuristic visions of jungle. With Pay Attention to the Bass, Pope expands his sound wider than ever, and it just so happens that it's an absolute blast to listen to as well.

Tristan Disco was an ephemeral Japanese project led by Takayuki Shiraishi (bgm, Mld) focused on making dubbish Post-Punk. In 1982 they elaborate a no-wave full of unrehearsed breaks and cavernous vocals. Boundless dark jamming sessions through shades, effects and reverbs always submerged by a tense nervous bassline. On the B side Krikor delivers a hard-hitting Industrial reconstruction of "Social Dance" perfect to shatter your brain. Retakes from the mysterious ambient artist Civilistjävel! are more brooding. Introspection and faded horizons are the main purposes here but a glimpse of hope still glow.

Something wicked this way comes. Following singles 'Know The Future' b/w 'Digital Warfare' in 2019 and 'Hypersocial' b/w 'Safety Test' in 2020, ESP’s own Patrick Conway has now teamed up with the illustrious Appleblim (of Skull Disco and Apple Pips fame) for a meaty self-titled debut 2xLP under the new collaborative moniker, Trinity Carbon. There is something to be said for art created in the face of global unraveling, while mass transgression and the friction of culture shifting produce poignant commentary, but more often than not, it’s the personal coping mechanisms within our work that have the power to speak directly to the receiver. After a number of sessions resulting in wild imaginative beginnings, it was the untimely passing of Andrew Weatherall and a coming to terms with that loss that moved the two Brits-via-Berlin to herd their roaming sketches into a more narrative statement. In the uphill struggle to retain some sense of individualism, it’s always outsiders like Weatherall whose risks illuminate the roads of creativity less traveled, and when those beacons go dark there is a disorientation felt far and wide. Conway and Blim concede to the internal inquiry, “What would Weatherall do?” bringing to mind the man’s pervading morale, always soldiering onward through mediocrity, as it was undoubtedly an impetus for the duo growing steadfast and chiseling 'Trinity Carbon' into completion. While employing trusted machines in the bass department, they established a warm euphonic home base from which they could stray in a variety of tonal and rhythmic directions without straining a tether to the album’s core. However, as soon as any hint of familiarity may arise, or listeners begin to mentally assign stylistic epithets, the duo boldly change course to remind us that while the banal stay safely defined, it’s the iconoclasts, the outsiders who make us feel.

the debut release of italian producer now berlin based luca trentini aka trent.

He is a resident dj of cocktail d’amore and has released some unique records from sound metaphors label “bless you”, cocktail d’amore.

A-Side:

”on fire” is just fire! it’s a mad dark disco house bunger.

B-Side:

”drums charmer” is a dark,psychedelic slow mo house. if you like slow stuff by andrew weatherall,you will love it.

“edenico blues” is a modern interpretation of afro cosmic sound. It's for the fans of beppe lota or daniele baldelli.

A double album of sumptuous, expansive downbeat luxury written by Pete Woosh - one half of the celebrated duo Digs & Woosh and Nottingham's DIY collective - with Andy Riley Toka Project, Inland Knights) during the illness which would eventually claim Pete's life. Given the background of its creation, it's a blissfully peaceful and optimistic sounding collection. The chilled disco/house hypnotism of 'Keep Yr Shape' and 'For Your Love', all slinky, hazy vocals and headnodding back room hedonism, are obvious highlights, but more reflective moments like 'Piano Fades' make this into a varied and enduring 'proper album' listen rather a mere collection of tracks. All profits will go to the Spirit Wrestlers foundation, founded in honour of Pete's memory and devoted to good causes in his hometown of Nottingham.

The Embassy is a Gothenburg pop duo consisting of guitarist/vocalist Fredrik Lindson and keyboardist/programmer Torbjörn Håkansson. Their music can be described as a blend of disco, twee pop and pub rock. Their music was first released by the independent label Service but is currently released via the bands own imprint, International. The group's post-modernist attitude, anti-rock aesthetics and disrespectful live performances have made them both loved and loathed.'

Immerse yourself into the psychedelic electronic pop of Talee, a rising Dutch artist weaving together the tapestry of contemporary indie dance with threads of early 90s British contaminated indie rock.

A multi-instrumentalist, previously championed by Disco Halal, Talee is set to unleash his debut EP “Waiting for Tomorrow” on the esteemed Californian label Underground Pacific, promising an unforgettable sonic journey.

Talee’s music transcends the boundaries of genre, seamlessly blending the warm rhythms and catchy melodies of Watherall’s Primal Scream and the lysergic groove of Happy Mondays with contemporary electronic textures.

This debut EP serves as a powerful statement of Talee’s artistic vision, showcasing his unique neo-romantic wave songwriting and great capturing riffs. The release also features an exciting collaboration with the acclaimed Irish Sullivan brothers SX2, who lend their signature touch to a captivating remix of “How High?” recalling the early irreverent and raving Underworld energy. Joining them is none other than Cantor, the musician and producer behind Underground Pacific himself, ensuring a Burning Man sunrise-inspired remix of “Be Here Now”.

The EP’s visual identity mirrors Talee’s artistic creativity with artwork conceptualized by the artist himself, complementing the music and offering a glimpse into Talee’s vibrant inner world.

Op Land begins with a slow landing on planet Earth, before unfolding on the B-side in the middle of an overly populated city somewhere around the Mediterranean Sea.

Szlo is the nickname of Laszlo Umbreit, who last year released an ambitious album on Sub Rosa. On this warm 7-inch, he succeeds in going beyond his primal, multi-layered electronic compositions to offer the simple pleasure of a not so straight-forward melody.

Renowned producer Sweatson Klank and the critically acclaimed Kondi Band join forces on a compelling new single, "Money Face". This deep mid-tempo afro house track features the legendary Sorie Kondi from Kondi Band, delivering a poignant narrative about how the Sierra Leonean government used the image of his face on their newly printed currency without his consent, leaving him uncompensated and left to face the daily struggles of life in Freetown. It"s a modern protest anthem rooted in Afro Beat and World Music influences driven by the pulse of a dance floor friendly Disco track.

Six artists remix the rich sound material from Sven Ka- cirek's LP “Scarlet Pitch Dreams” (Pingipung 32, April 2012). Sven's original percussion recordings and his densely layered melodies invite for a rework which fo- cuses on the single elements. Robert Lippok (To Rococo Rot, Raster Noton) turns the title track into a balearic sunshine dance until the voice and synthlines evoke a deep and driving witchhouse at- mosphere. Absolutely awesome remix! Opiate aka Thomas Knak from Denmark (Morr Music) is one of Pingipung's favourite artists in the world and we're very happy to have his remix included here. His highly individual syncopating beat works dive into the pool of Sven's percussions, with the snare and marimba always in the foreground. Stefan Schneider (Mapstation, To Rococo Rot) delivers a delicious dub version of “About Me And You”. In fact, Stefan Schneider and Sven Kacirek are in the beginnings of their musical collaboration, releasing one album on Honest Jon's later in the year and playing gigs together. RSS Disco & Sugarwater (Mireia Rec) transform snip- pets of the voice and marimba patterns of the title track into a disco track. RSS Disco have been responsible as DJs for some of the most outstanding parties in Pin- gipung's hometown Hamburg lately. We're very happy to include these talented producers in this release. F.S. Blumm (Morr Music) adds nothing but his charac- teristic guitar to the “Scarlet Pitch dreams” vocals of Jana Plewa. No question it's a perfect match: the two make the duo “Old Splendifolia” and have released one beautiful album on the Plop Imprint. Peter Presto finally remixes “About Me And You” in the best of his humours. The guy who made the first Pin- gipung record ten years ago (yes, it's our anniversary!) always has one other melody to add. Happy go lucky style, we like!

Obliques and Atmospheric are very happy to present their new album “Golden Apples of the Sun”. It is the result of a close cooperation between Suzanne Ciani and Jonathan Fitoussi. The American electronic music pioneer (5 time Grammy award-nominated) has joined the French composer to sign a four-hand album around mythical synthesizers like Buchla, Moog and Ems... Mainly recorded in California, facing the Pacific Ocean, the white sound of synthesizers mixes constantly with the sound of the waves and wind.The music generated is directly blended with the surrounding elements of nature.It is both organic and live, hypnotic and rhythmical, powerful and dreamlike. Suzanne is a five-time Grammy award-nominated composer, electronic music pioneer, and neo-classical recording artist who has released over 20 solo albums. Her work has been featured in films, games, and countless commercials as well. She was inducted into the first class of Keyboard Magazine's Hall of Fame alongside other synthluminaries. Most recently, she is the recipient of the Independent Icon Award from A2im. Suzanne has provided the voice and sounds for Bally's groundbreaking "Xenon" pinball machine, created Coca-Cola’s popand-pour sound, designed logos for Fortune 500 companies, and carved out a niche as one of the most creatively successful female composers in the world.

Reissue of this italo disco rarity from 1987 with Flemming Dalum & Rey David Diaz remixes.

close to NM. slight stain on front cover

Cabaret Voltaire co-founder Stephen Mallinder's second solo outing for Dais further distills his signature fusion of minimal synth, oblique wordplay, and "wonky disco" into a riveting rhythm suite ripe for our Age of Escalation: Tick Tick Tick. Channeling the temporal malaise of lockdown through a lusher palette of modular electronics and stereo strings, the songs embrace ambiguity and plasticity, loose systems of percolating circuitry and airless funk. Recorded across a handful of sessions at Meme Tune Studios in Cornwall with frequent collaborator Benge (aka Ben Edwards), Mallinder cites no guiding aesthetic premise for the collection beyond "cowbell on every track, and entirely no reverb." From the first coiled cybernetic groove of opener "Contact," the album's spatial dynamics are disorienting and asymmetrical, alternately cold and sensual, opiated and claustrophobic. But, throughout, "rhythm is the default, the bedrock, the building block-even the melodies are rhythmic." Across 40-plus years of electronic musicianship, Mallinder's sense of timing and tempo has honed into a rare tier of mastery, limber and fluid but knotted with strange frictions. Shades of Detroit technoid industrial ("ringdropp," "Shock To The Body") crossfade into now avy punk-funk ("Guernica Gallery," "Galaxy," "The Trial"), bad trip IDM ("Wasteland"), and jittery vapor house ("Hush"), at the threshold of modes both familiar and foreign. Lyrically the record is equally evasive, rich with allusions and associative linguistics, surveying liquid notions of societal noise, ecological ruin, art world pretension, and the trials of daily life. But the lack of fixed meaning remains Mallinder's main muse: "Music should draw you in; lyrics should make you think. Most interpretation is misinterpretation." This is music of countdowns and comedowns, fleeting pleasures and opaque futures, observing the great decline while dancing on its ashes. Flux is deathless and forever; the rest, illusion: "I will be a constant figure / Flickering a moving picture / Turning in your head forever / Split apart but held together."

Cabaret Voltaire co-founder Stephen Mallinder's second solo outing for Dais further distills his signature fusion of minimal synth, oblique wordplay, and "wonky disco" into a riveting rhythm suite ripe for our Age of Escalation: Tick Tick Tick. Channeling the temporal malaise of lockdown through a lusher palette of modular electronics and stereo strings, the songs embrace ambiguity and plasticity, loose systems of percolating circuitry and airless funk. Recorded across a handful of sessions at Meme Tune Studios in Cornwall with frequent collaborator Benge (aka Ben Edwards), Mallinder cites no guiding aesthetic premise for the collection beyond "cowbell on every track, and entirely no reverb." From the first coiled cybernetic groove of opener "Contact," the album's spatial dynamics are disorienting and asymmetrical, alternately cold and sensual, opiated and claustrophobic. But, throughout, "rhythm is the default, the bedrock, the building block-even the melodies are rhythmic." Across 40-plus years of electronic musicianship, Mallinder's sense of timing and tempo has honed into a rare tier of mastery, limber and fluid but knotted with strange frictions. Shades of Detroit technoid industrial ("ringdropp," "Shock To The Body") crossfade into now avy punk-funk ("Guernica Gallery," "Galaxy," "The Trial"), bad trip IDM ("Wasteland"), and jittery vapor house ("Hush"), at the threshold of modes both familiar and foreign. Lyrically the record is equally evasive, rich with allusions and associative linguistics, surveying liquid notions of societal noise, ecological ruin, art world pretension, and the trials of daily life. But the lack of fixed meaning remains Mallinder's main muse: "Music should draw you in; lyrics should make you think. Most interpretation is misinterpretation." This is music of countdowns and comedowns, fleeting pleasures and opaque futures, observing the great decline while dancing on its ashes. Flux is deathless and forever; the rest, illusion: "I will be a constant figure / Flickering a moving picture / Turning in your head forever / Split apart but held together."

4x LP and Zine (ft. photos, historical text and track narrations by the artist) set. Nation bring it. An essential delve in to the retrospective works of Ssps. Limited edition. No repress. Huge TIP ON This!

" You can't fake the funk, as they say and Ssps is pure funk embodied in all he does, the man oozes the funk 24-7! One of my earliest encounters with Ssps was at one of the infamous Rubulad parties out in Brooklyn.... the man was decked out extravagantly...a cross between Blowfly and some futuristic being zapped down to earth directly from the P-Funk mothership. Who was this masked man? The disco vampire, was beating fast disco tracks relentlessly while slamming in his 707 over the records in real time... not an easy feat, the beauty of the imperfections making it that much more exciting hearing the gallop and wild energy he was bringing to the crowd, we were eating it up. This is Ssps, fearless in his approach and execution, a modernist looking to the future but rooted in the past, an artist committed to his art... all presented with unhinged emotion. It's all or nothing...everything on the table....do or die...the true epitome of style!!!!

Declaring someone a "cult figure" or a "legend" is a huge weight to carry and is often a term that is carelessly thrown around, but those of us who have dwelled in this "underground" over the last 30 years can say with confidence that Ssps is just that to many of us, no questions asked, it's not up for debate.

Now, many years later we see the culmination of his electronic works from 2002-2021 committed to record in this 4xlp, 16 track boxed set (plus 45 page booklet) titled Ssps, "The Life and Times of GiGi Black" thus solidifying Mr. Nicholson's place in the secret world of dance not dance music.

The only way to describe this offering is "full spectrum electronic musical madness" not to be categorized, never to be pigeonholed, full of surprises and straight from the gut with a direct hit to the heart. We could go on about the production processes, about his Furr City studio space or his cross country excursions for work with a truck packed with paintings (but also his music equipment) plugging in and recording during his pit stops in Motel 6's across the US. But again it doesn't do justice to simply have a small peek inside the man's mind... the music is beyond the mind. The process is the process and nothing has or can stand in the way of what the Ssps has done in his long musical life. Punk Rock, Hardcore, House, No-Wave, Industrial, Jakbeat/Slow-Beat and Noise. it's all there for the taking, it's all intertwined. If you want it, you will find it within Ssps's works.

Nicholson's path is the embodiment of true culture within "dance music" cultivated from years of learning, experimenting, and pushing the limits with total commitment and immersion. "The Life and Times of GiGi Black" is true life experience, it is a reflection of someone delving deep into his craft and presenting it with care in opposition to the fast, disposable, self gratifying click bait culture we see dominating the pages today. The proof is here, drop the needle, enter the world of Ssps.

Belfast-producer Space Dimension Controller, a.k.a. Jack Hamill, may be landing his debut release on Dekmantel, but he’s definitely no stranger to their shores. With the three-track EP ‘Gaining Time’ clocking in at over 35-minutes, phasing between cosmic kaleidoscopic house, and serene, epic ambient, — a sonic atmosphere reminiscent of the background resonance the galaxy permeates on a daily basis — Hamill’s Dekmantel debut is closer to that of an album, than your average set of club 12”s.
Hamill began his production career with the space-disco EP ‘Journey to the core of the unknown sphere’, a record that truly set him apart from his peers, showcasing his technical nuance, and love of melodics. Since then he’s further established himself through conceptual-album projects on Ninja Tune, experimental dancefloor EPs on R&S Records, and experimentations on techno through Royal Oak. With his penchant for techno, and inclination towards painting musical narratives around science fiction and electro-futurism, Hamill is the next step in evolution towards Detroit-like, future music, albeit from Northern Ireland. His latest EP kicks off with ‘Everything is Better Now’ and a countdown that blasts off into a trans-dimensional 14-minute journey of warped kicks, pads that phase in-and-out of our conventional timezone, a bassline that doesn’t pop-up until the four-minute mark — like a gravity fluctuation abruptly peering through a temporary wormhole—, melody, character, and a free flowing story arc worthy of the Space Dimension Controller himself. ‘Everything is Better Now’ is an epic, techno-futurist journey of progressive, fluid, epicness. ’NRG Intersect’ is a beautiful 15-minute ambient transmission from outer space, played out with synth chords, across strummed melodies and a tape deck hitch here and there, like an uncoded language from a far off land - as if Brian Eno himself has forgotten to include the track on his lunar, legacy record ‘Apollo’. ‘Still Returning’ takes the ambient coding and minimises it yet further, like Solaris itself beckoning from its cloudy, deep, mystic blue oceans.

Fake Yourself is an act of revolt as much as it is a celebration of life and an expression of human alienation. As usual in most of his work, soFa here reflects contrasts and contradictions as our existence so often does. It’s about sadness and joy, ups and downs and the fine line which connects them to tell a story. Fake Yourself comes as a spontaneous output of an artist escaping a scene of which the constant superficiality is unavoidable. Mistakes and wrong production with a strong DIY flavor are a conscious choice to not lose the spontaneous feeling which defines these recordings. A pure and direct self, exploring a realm of sound with sharp curiosity, emotion and humour. Where simplicity and complexity marry. This album is a good example on how some of the most authentic musical explorations are the most personal ones. soFa leaves all boundaries behind and let many of his influences confluence. Unconsciously or not, traces of IDM, Disco, New Beat, Dub and mostly Krautrock cross heavenly paths, followed by ironic and confronted vocals and his hypnotic signature basslines. Everything seems to make sense, to fill the chapters of an adventurous short novel.

What makes Fake Yourself remarkable is not the deep blend of genres, but the definition of one man shaping and finding his authentic sound. Killing boundaries to create this journey in his very own "style-no-style".

All tunes were improvised, recorded and arranged within 10 days in a wooden cabin, isolated in the middle of the nature in Alentejo/Portugal in 2022. This album was not meant to happen and one can strongly feel its spontaneous soul. No overdubs.

The ironically titled Structurally Sound is the fourth and final release by Baltimore/Australian band Smoke Bellow via Portland's Moon Glyph Records. This release traverses a period of personal upheaval and destruction for the band, as well as the breakdown of the central creative relationship at its core. Written over 2022 and 2023 at home in Baltimore, this record was born of the collaboration between founding members Christian Best and Meredith McHugh. This release saw the duo partner with Baltimore percussionist Jen Kirby (Strange Times People Band) who had joined the band on many tours to promote 2021's Open for Business (Trouble in Mind). Structurally Sound is the self-assured melding of post-punk, disco and modern minimalist composition, with lyrical themes spanning desire, personal anguish as well as the celebration of community and resilience. It represents something entirely new, however, distinct sonic lines can be traced to previous iterations of the band. Sonically, influences range from modern minimalist composers such as Philip Glass, Terry Riley and Steve Reich, to the elemental bass/drum/guitar conversation of ESG, The Raincoats, Pylon, Au Pairs and Essential Logic. At its core Structurally Sound is a celebration of the buoyancy found in the bonds of community. It is a fitting closing chapter to the band's omnipresent exploration of rhythm and repetition, at once serious and playful. This release sees an increased focus on arrangement as a key conveyor of musical ideas and a sonic palette expanded by their collaborators’ horns, strings, percussion and prose.

Sistro (Sistrum) is a kind of percussion instrument that has had several incarnations and names in various cultures since the time of the Sumerians and throughout history has always been associated with religious rituals. It’s from this relationship between music and the transcendent that Nuno Oliveira (Nuno O, Judas Triste, José Pinhal Post-Mortem Experience), Tito Silva (Vasco da Ganza, José Pinhal Post-Mortem Experience) and Rodolfo Oliveira (Oficinas TK) were gradually inspired to create a trio that pays homage to this instrument of ancient times.

The project was born casually and without intentionality throughout several incursions into megalithic monuments in the hills and mountains of northern Portugal, culminating in an unusual two-day session of musical experimentation in Esposende, in September 2019. In this two-day session, codenamed “Arménio Sessions”, the trio explored a sound based on sea soundscapes, electronic beats, electric noises and the strings of na altered guitar. Channeling the strength of the elements and the mystique of the place in the form of a musical experience.

In 2021, Sistro collaborated with Mario Klingemann (aka Quasimondo) who created a music video especially for the band, created using a vintage video mixing board. Then using feedback loops and a process that Klingemann calls “Neural Edit”, which uses an artificial intelligence algorithm to correlate the raw video material with the sound.

After a long period of incubation, the group's first full-length release sees the light of day on the 31th October, 2023, moment in which a sequence of rituals begins to present and celebrate the relationship between music and the transcendent. Sistro's debut album will be released by Favela Discos, having been mixed by Tito Silva and mastered by Pedro Augusto. The photography and graphics are by Oficinas TK.

After his recent release on Robert Johnson, Daniel Klein aka Sirs returns to his own Sirsounds Records imprint serving up more sumptuous original compositions on the searingly good ‘The East Is Near EP.’

The Berlin-based musical polymath Sirs (Sounds in Real Stereo), and his project has won over an abundance of admirers across the dance underground in recent years. He's produced and remixed for benchmark labels including Public Possession, Live at Robert Johnson, Compost, Future Disco, and Music for Dreams, and has been drafted to remix artists as diverse as 2raumwohnung and Ennio Morricone. His latest release arrives on the label he launched in 2017 to provide a home for his effervescent output.

On ‘The East Is Near’ Klein has elegantly produced and cleverly arranged spicy and exotic cuts for different moments of the dance, however they all have something in common – an Eastern touch. Teaming up with Berlin master musician Declan McDermott, the captivating tracks have already done some damage and noise on dancefloors around the world.

In times where fantasy worlds seem in danger of extinction, Saturns Drive created his own. ‘Next Stop Nebula’ combines oceanic slide guitars, early synth digitalism and 90s-inspired inspired rhythms to get any sailors ship sailing. The result is a fearless space where machines and guitars come together in a psychedelic pop meltdown. Saturns Drive is a Berlin-based music project created by Elfy, a producer and DJ from New Zealand who draws inspiration from early sci-fi, exotica and library music, cosmic disco synthesizers, italo grooves and arpy electronics. He has recently been featured on the track "Parallel Panorama" by Saeko Killy and performs regularly along with other artists of the Berlin music scene.

New Australian label run by Sampology himself. Middle Name Dance Tracks Vol 1 is the second release from Sampology’s new imprint. The Middle Name Dance Tracks project reflects standout live & club nights in Brisbane of recent years, where there has seen a steady cross pollination between the club and soul/jazz communities. The blurred line between these two musical worlds has delivered an array of diverse and joyful events for both artists and avid music fans.

Harvey Sutherland
"Great live vibes and arrangements on these collaborations Sam, always appreciate the attention to detail on your tracks. “Bless” is a jam! ”

CC:DISCO!
'Fantastic release, sampology continues to wow me with his depth and talent . It’s a yes from me for these Brisbane collabs!!!'

This project is a collaborative creative effort between Sampology, Megan Christensen and Sam Stosuur. The recording process was live in nature with Megan on piano and keys, Sam Stosuur on bass/bass synth and Sampology on MPC drums and programming. Having live conga & timbale from Brisbane based Latin percussion staple Gus Cereiji glues the groove together. These sonic choices were inspired by listening to NYC early 80s disco labels, especially Prelude 12" releases, which balanced drum machine & synths as well as live studio musicians. Vocals on 'Only Joy' were recorded by Kerry Raywood. Vocals for 'Bless' come from Brisbane jazz vocalist Merinda Dias-Jayasinha. The combination of the Middle Name Dance Tracks trio and the additional Brisbane artists offers a specific music palette that’s live in essence, dancefloor in orientation, and magical in delivery.

Middle Name Records Dance Tracks Vol 1.

All songs written by Megan Christensen, Sam Maguire & Sam Poggioli
'Only Joy' co written by Tiana Naug
'Bless' co written by Merinda Dias-Joyasinha

Keys - Megan Christensen
Bass - Sam Stosuur
Drums - Sampology

Vocals for 'Only Joy' - Kerry Raywood
Vocals for 'Bless' - Merinda Dias-Jayasinha

additional percussion - Gus Cereijo

produced / mixed - Sampology

Artwork Sue Poggioli

Vinyl Lacquer cut by Simon Davey, Manufactured by R.A.N.D MUZIK Germany

c&p 2018 Middle Name Records MNR002

Following on from the psychoacoustic concrète of Outside Ludlow / Desert Disco LP (bt075), Sam Dunscombe returns to Black Truffle with Two Forests / Oceanic. Dunscombe has been active in recent years on multiple fronts, including as a key member of the Berlin community of Just Intonation researchers and practitioners; working with composers like Taku Sugimoto, Mary Jane Leach, and Anthony Pateras; and the release of Horatiu Radulescu - Plasmatic Music vol. 1 (the result of many years performance research into the thought and music of this seminal Romanian spectralist). In parallel with these activities, Dunscombe has been deeply involved in research on the role of music in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, prompting these two side long pieces, composed using field recordings and digital synthesis. As Dunscombe explains in the accompanying liner notes, music plays a key role in psychedelic-assisted therapy, yet it is often restricted to stock forms of New Age, ambient and electronica. Taking seriously the potential for spatio-environmental sonic experiences to add to the therapeutic process, these two pieces are intended to suggest how ‘a music-as-environment approach may help to add options to the therapist’s toolbox’. ‘Two Forests’ begins in a central Californian sequoia grove. Bird songs and buzzing insect life are treated with a variety of time-based processing methods (slicing and recombination, primitive granular synthesis, delay, and so on), which strip the field recordings of their linear, documentary character, reframing them in an enchanted web of traces and echoes. Analysing the pitches found in the original recordings, Dunscombe used them to generate a large Just Intonation pitch set. These tones are woven slowly into the field recordings, gradually building in density and complexity until the forest has been transformed into an unreal space of infinite proportions. Emerging from this cosmic expanse in the final minutes of the piece, we find ourselves in the Amazon rainforest outside Manaus, Brazil. As Dunscombe writes, the piece creates ‘a sense of place-gone-strange, of space and time simultaneously expanding and contracting across octaves, miles, and minutes’. On ‘Oceanic’, several recordings of different beaches fade in and out to create a texture both homogenous and constantly shifting in both the rhythm of the waves and each recording's sense of depth and distance. Tones relating in simple ratios to the average rhythm of each beach float over each other, colouring the white noise texture of the field recordings with shifting hues. In both pieces, Dunscombe forgoes the easy consonance that bogs down much contemporary ambient music for a richer harmonic array informed by extended tuning practices and spectralism. The end results suggest a hitherto undreamt-of meeting of Radulescu’s undulating sonic masses and the discreetly processed location recordings of Irv Teibel’s ‘psychologically ultimate’ Environments. Looking beyond the insularity that can afflict experimental music culture, Dunscombe’s work is a moving argument for the healing power of expanded approaches to sound and music. Even outside of a psychedelics-assisted therapy, frequent immersion in Two Forests / Oceanic is almost guaranteed to produce beneficial psychological results.

Matter & Time is Romanski’s second EP on the Wonder Music label. It is a diverse journey of Iranian melody quotes, analog synthesizer arpeggios, tropical disco adventures and vocoder-based vocal interventions. Romanski does not adhere to a uniform scheme of tempo and rhythm. And so melodic slow techno (Mara Beboos), unusually edgy metre (Matter & Time), sprightly disco house (Hombre Sincero) and a laid-back afterhour vocal number (Ammaring) come together on this record. All of these facets are combined in a lively and spacey atmosphere with elaborate rhythm and sound textures that make Romanski’s recognizable sound.

Roger Robinson (King Midas Sound, Black Space Quartet) delivers 2 standalone sides of haunted soul over instrumentals from Jabu’s Amos Childs. Described by Roger as an imaginary soundtrack to a long escalator ride downwards to a Hiroshi Sugimoto exhibition - ‘the music that might be playing as you tried your best to avoid everyone else’s eyes’. A bruised take on Muzak, ‘a sadder kind of normal’. Roger’s innate understanding of form and melody manages to somehow pull real ear worm pop hooks out of the lilting backing of ground hum and hiss from the mixing desk, his falsetto bringing to mind everything from early Sade demos through to lovers rock. On the A side Summer sees Roger yearning for warmer days, over an other-worldly drums machine workout before collapsing in on itself in a disco mix / funeral coda outro. On the flip side the instrumental is pared back even further to a crawling slo motion piano and the sound of faders crackling turned to 11, Roger dials the emotions up another notch, channelling ghosts of low rider soul and entering into ice cold slow jam / ballad territory. Essential late winter / early spring listening for lonely late nite laundrette trips and dawn cigarettes in the graveyard.

Roe Deers presents his fascinating debut full-length Salt Town Boy, a leftfield collection of wild sonic tales filled with dusky moods and punk attitude. The first LP to be released on Good Skills, the label Roe Deers runs with Bdhbts co-conspirator Titas Motuzas, the album brings together tracks produced in his Vilnius studio over the past six years. It also features a series of unique storytelling vocal contributions from an international list of friends and colleagues.

Roe Deers is a Lithuanian-based project led by Liudas Lazauskas. A regular at Vilnius institution Opium and a key member of the city's fertile scene, he's long been breaking the rules of genre in his explorations of the uncharted territories of murky electronic music, releasing on labels like Omnidisc, Turbo, Nein Records and Throne Of Blood.

The Salt Town of the album's title is Druskininkai, the Lithuanian spa resort where Roe Deers grew up and first began DJing at a venue run by his parents. The breadth of styles and moods he was exposed to from an early age can be heard across these 12 intriguing tracks, which blend elements of beat science, electroclash, post punk, italo, krautrock and EBM into a deliciously intoxicating brew.

The skewed motorik pulse of opener and lead single 'Trident', featuring apocalyptic intonations by French-Canadian lyricist C.A.R., sets an offbeat, ominous tone that prevails for the rest of the album. Vocal contributions from Israeli producer Niv Ast ('Late Night Tale'), Norwegian troublemaker Sex Judas ('Rodeo King') and Berlin-based singer Aquarius Heaven ('Walking Down The Streets') each bring out the moods - vampish, febrile, industrial - that permeate Roe Deers's textured, percussive productions. At the album's centre are two tracks that point to the past and possible future of the Roe Deers project: first, 'Theme' features French post punk band Order89 in a compelling disco-noir moment that recalls his earlier club EPs; then, regular collaborator Palmes Ziedas provides Lithuanian vocals for 'Tarp Raudonu Sviesu' ('Between Red Lights'), a frenzied howl of a track that fits an entire film score into its short three minutes.

The instrumental pieces on the album have their own stories to tell, from the dusty dive bar meditation of 'Flying Carpets' to the paranoid proto-techno pulse of 'Celebrity Theme' and the 11-minute cyclical epic 'Never - Ending -'. As the last moments of cinematic closer 'Fin' play out, we realise that our trip down the twisted paths of Roe Deers's beguiling sound world is coming to an end; but we also know that to go back in again all we have to do is press play.

Harde Smart is back again! With the new Harde Smart 7" Sampler, you get a taste of the upcoming Harde Smart Volume 2: Flemish & Dutch grooves from the 1980's, the successor to the acclaimed original Harde Smart compilation that showcased the best of the Dutch-linguistic territory back in the '70s. Even in the decade that followed, a whole host of gems were made that were remarkably danceable, catchy and playful, as proven by the two tracks on this sampler. Joost Belinfante puts it nicely on the B-side: 'nothing to prove, nothing to claim, it is as it is.' Harde Smart never disappoints.

Harde Smart Volume 2: Flemish & Dutch grooves from the 1980's

Harde Smart is on it with the sophomore compilation effort Flemish & Dutch grooves from the 1980's. Vinyl aficionado's No Sleep Richy and Micha Marva teamed up with Sjefke De Kok (one of Holland's illest to rack those crates!) to continue their journey. While raking deep in the dusty bins with Dutch and Flemish records, they once again discovered an exquisite selection of tracks. Too weird to play, too rare to throw away. From butt-shaking boogie to weird disco adventures on wax, this album is sounding like all the good stuff the eighties had to offer: both smooth and sexy as well as dark and wavy. Get ready for an atypical introduction into the Dutch lyric-driven music from the 1980's.

The Harde Smart 7" Sampler will be released on Friday 15 March 2024 via Sdban. Harde Smart volume 2: Flemish & Dutch Grooves From the 80's will be released soon via Sdban.

"On Synthetic: Season 2, Halifax pop artist and composer Rich Aucoin continues his journey through the history of synthesizers. The second entry in his quadruple LP series once again features an armada of the world’s most rare, historic, and highly sought after electronic instruments. Gaining access to the collections of Calgary’s National Music Centre and LA’s Vintage Synthesizer Museum, Aucoin ran amok on machines to create four albums of thrilling, transporting instrumental music.

Each song on Synthetic: Season 2 conjures a world of its own, combining Aucoin’s melodic sensibilities with textural, genre-agnostic experimentation. The album swerves into action with the wiggling synths and thunderous drum breaks of “Wav” – recorded on the Hammond Novachord from 1939 and considered the very first analog, fully polyphonic synthesizer – stacking hooks like a cinematic training montage as it climbs toward the first of many transcendent conclusions. “Shift” changes course into eerie, frostbitten industrial territory with rubbery beats that bounce like pogo sticks, switching tempos unexpectedly and dissolving into skittering arrays of sound.

The squelching groove of “Pure” brings a touch of ’90s French House, like Daft Punk jet-setting around the world. Six minutes pass in a flash during this playful brain-dance. “Space” is a thumping banger built upon chiming, subaquatic beats that slice through thick drones and filter disco drops. Its passages of extraterrestrial techno tranquility will make you feel like an astronaut floating in the inky void, making shapes in zero gravity.

- Jesse Locke"

Grammy award-winning DJ and producer Purple Disco Machine has shared his latest single ‘Beat of Your Heart’ in collaboration with Icelandic artist Ásdís.

Combining Purple Disco Machine’s trademark disco infused sound with Ásdís’s magnetic vocals, the high-energy track is laden with danceable grooves, big synths and catchy melodies. The accompanying music video, directed by Ndvd, brings all of the joy of the dancefloor to life intertwining love, freedom and fantasy.

Speaking about the track, Purple Disco Machine says: “I was sent the vocals by Ásdís and I immediately fell in love with her voice. I wanted to release the track as a single and we later re-recorded it together in my studio in Dresden, which was really great.”

The young virtuoso producer Prins Emanuel follows up his acclaimed debut album on Music For Dreams with something quite different than what we’re used to hearing from him. While Arbete & Fritid was an epic odyssey into the furthest corners of disco with an array of studio wizardry and complex rhythms, Diagonal Musik is a sparse and delicate exploration of the acoustic guitar. Steering away from his comfort zone, the Prins follows his intuition for experimentation and lands somewhere in a field of genre-defiant folk-jazz meditations; a development that fits like hand in glove for the eccentric nature of Music For Dreams.