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Welcoming Matty B who has previously released on Hardcore Vinylists & Cantina Cuts -to the Return of The Vibe Label for the Sounds Of '92 EP - Available on Flame yellow or Standard Black vinyl - This EP is 4 original tracks using well known samples encapsulating the sound and vibes of the best year of rave music - 1992 - New stuff made in the Old Skool Style

UK based producer Hugo Massien has been slowly but surely making a name for himself over the past few years. Metamorphosis marks Hugo’s debut LP on the E-Beamz Record label.

In the late 1980s, Disco was taking a backseat to the burgeoning psychedelic scene in San Francisco, marking a pivotal shift in musical culture. A dynamic transformation was underway as the younger generation sought a fresh auditory adventure, all while the devastating AIDS epidemic cast a somber pall over the city's nightlife. Amidst this evolving backdrop, a subtle yet distinct sonic movement quietly emerged within the confines of San Francisco’s vibrant club scene, often referred to as "The Beat." Although Hip-Hop, New Wave, Gothic, Punk, and the burgeoning Modern Rock genre held considerable sway, the pre-RAVE clubs in SF witnessed the fusion of these genres into a unique amalgam of sound that insiders dubbed “The Beat.” This musical tapestry encompassed everything from Hip-Hop and Freestyle to Industrial, New Wave, Boogie, Miami Bass, and Techno – the unifying thread being the distinctive vibe that characterised this eclectic mix.

As House, Techno, and Raving gradually gained prominence along the West Coast, a distinctive interpretation of these evolving sounds took root. Drawing inspiration from influential hubs like New York, Chicago, Detroit, Europe, and notably the UK, which saw a wave of talented young DJs migrate to California, San Francisco became the backdrop for its own version of the second Summer of Love. While the exact chronology might spark debate – some recalling '92, while others leaning towards '93 – what remains indisputable is the era spanning from 1990 to 1994, an unparalleled epoch of exuberant dancefloor revelry on the western shores.

In the face of limited backing from major labels or established independent dance music entities of the time, a grassroots movement of labels and producers emerged organically, ardently championing this distinct sound and catapulting it onto the global stage. This sonic identity was deeply influenced by “the Beat,” acting as a creative wellspring that informed the musical landscape. While the tracks compiled in these volumes might not encompass the entirety of this transformative musical epoch, they offer a vivid snapshot of the melodious tapestry that coloured San Francisco and the broader West Coast during that era. Each track featured stands as a 100% Sure Shot that was played heavily by DJ Spun back in those very heady days.

Finally, but by no means least, we unveil the third and concluding volume of this extensive, impeccably curated chronicle of San Francisco's underground rave scene and its unique soundscape. Mirroring the same fervour and meticulous track selection as the first two volumes, 'The Beat By Spun' is nothing less than indispensable for any dedicated music enthusiast, DJ, or dancer. Once again, this collection showcases an outstanding array of tracks, featuring music from talents like Mattski, Bass Kittens, Hawke, and Deep2, all maintaining the high standards set by the previous volumes. It's a blend of rarities, classics, and obscurities, combining to deliver an exhilarating, almost transcendental experience to those who dare to immerse themselves in the sonics!

In the late 1980s, Disco was taking a backseat to the burgeoning psychedelic scene in San Francisco, marking a pivotal shift in musical culture. A dynamic transformation was underway as the younger generation sought a fresh auditory adventure, all while the devastating AIDS epidemic cast a somber pall over the city's nightlife. Amidst this evolving backdrop, a subtle yet distinct sonic movement quietly emerged within the confines of San Francisco’s vibrant club scene, often referred to as "The Beat." Although Hip-Hop, New Wave, Gothic, Punk, and the burgeoning Modern Rock genre held considerable sway, the pre-RAVE clubs in SF witnessed the fusion of these genres into a unique amalgam of sound that insiders dubbed “The Beat.” This musical tapestry encompassed everything from Hip-Hop and Freestyle to Industrial, New Wave, Boogie, Miami Bass, and Techno – the unifying thread being the distinctive vibe that characterised this eclectic mix.

As House, Techno, and Raving gradually gained prominence along the West Coast, a distinctive interpretation of these evolving sounds took root. Drawing inspiration from influential hubs like New York, Chicago, Detroit, Europe, and notably the UK, which saw a wave of talented young DJs migrate to California, San Francisco became the backdrop for its own version of the second Summer of Love. While the exact chronology might spark debate – some recalling '92, while others leaning towards '93 – what remains indisputable is the era spanning from 1990 to 1994, an unparalleled epoch of exuberant dancefloor revelry on the western shores.

In the face of limited backing from major labels or established independent dance music entities of the time, a grassroots movement of labels and producers emerged organically, ardently championing this distinct sound and catapulting it onto the global stage. This sonic identity was deeply influenced by “the Beat,” acting as a creative wellspring that informed the musical landscape. While the tracks compiled in these volumes might not encompass the entirety of this transformative musical epoch, they offer a vivid snapshot of the melodious tapestry that coloured San Francisco and the broader West Coast during that era. Each track featured stands as a 100% Sure Shot that was played heavily by DJ Spun back in those very heady days.

The second installment of this remarkable journey into the underground scene maintains the same profound level of depth and significance as its precursor. Showcasing tracks from Electroliners, High Lonesome Soundsystem, Single Cell Orchestra, DJ Emma, and Spun's own Central Fire project, all harmoniously enclosed within the captivating and arresting artwork by Villain Standard, this release stands shoulder to shoulder with its forerunner. Beyond a mere compilation, it's an indispensable extension of the narrative that has indelibly shaped the culture of underground American dance music within the region, embodying the era and the individuals involved. This is the authentic underground sound that reverberated across San Francisco and its surrounding environs, a truly distinctive and exceptional moment in time and space.

Tony Boninsegna: Notes From The Underground 1986-1994 (Volumes 1 and 2) Cold Blow / Musique Pour La Danse

The story of dance music is littered with hidden heroes and underground activists whose immense contributions have been overlooked, ignored and under-documented. Tony Boninsegna, a producer who made and released countless classic cuts and forgotten gems during the acid house and rave era, is one such example.

Melding elements of all that was popular in underground clubs at the time to create his own dancefloor-friendly sound worlds, Boninsegna amassed a huge catalogue between 1986 and '94, while hiding his involvement via an array of oddball aliases and opaque pseudonyms. Boninsegna's story first came to light four years ago when he appeared in Join The Future: Bleep Techno and the Birth of British Bass Music, Matt Anniss's critically acclaimed alternative history of UK dance music in the rave era. Now Cold Blow has joined forces with Musique Pour La Danse to deliver a much-needed anthology of his greatest productions and co-productions - many rare or hard-to-find - for the first time. Featuring 24 restored and remastered tracks stretched across two volumes on vinyl and digital, including a handful of previously unreleased tracks and mixes, and accompanied by detailed sleeve notes by Anniss, Notes From The Underground 1986-1994 is a joyful celebration of one of British dance music's most under-appreciated artists. The full breadth and depth of Boninsegna's rave-ready catalogue, as well as an indication of the sheer volume of aliases he utilised during the period, is explored in detail across the two-part compilation.

Volume two continues in a similar vein while devoting more disc space to Boninsegna's breakbeat-driven productions of the early 1990s. So, alongside more must-have tracks from the producer's Chill-released projects (Return of The Living Acid's surging acid thumper 'Big Dipper', MI7's twisted bleep and breaks monster 'Show I', and a couple of killer cuts alongside Mykey Tee as Original Clique), Cold Blow & Musique Pour La Danse have also made room for the proto-jungle brilliance of Ragga Head's 'Give The People Junglis', the tongue-in-cheek excellence of Ministry of Fear's 'Original Cliché', two top tracks as Napoleon, and the wild, acid breaks breathlessness of 'Monsoon' by Sykosis 451.

It all adds up to the definitive musical retrospective of a genuine underground, rave-era hero whose time in the spotlight may finally have arrived.

Straight out of Tokyo, the illusive Guchon steps up for the next release on Feelings Worldwide.

One for the heads who like to stay up late and get down with their games consoles, the EP is packed with dance floor curveball material.

Super fun vibes throughout, a slab of Japanese bubblegum pop-house with some bonus breaks and a remix from cult hero Chrissy of Chicago Smartbar fame.

Tongue-in-cheek as usual, belleter Niklas Wandt melts up pianos, acid lines and bass heavy breaks as raw material for Die Glocke (The Bell). When the hunchback pours the lead of three decades of rave culture onto your lost souls, it’s too late for shelter. Fantastic Twins evaporates not just the bell but the whole bell tower into particles of peak time madness for the mental cases.

On the flip Bodyzeit heats up on an even more old schoolish tip with breaks that definitely win the bumper car dancefloor. Very sorry for the spilt drinks, thrown fags, popped pills, ripped shirts and funny faces trying to sing along these german vocoder phrases. Borusiade doing some serious bodywork, shifting gears down in her lowrider manner, modding this burner into a dreamish but deep wee-hour masterride.

Tony Boninsegna: Notes From The Underground 1986-1994 (Volumes 1 and 2) Cold Blow / Musique Pour La Danse

The story of dance music is littered with hidden heroes and underground activists whose immense contributions have been overlooked, ignored and under-documented. Tony Boninsegna, a producer who made and released countless classic cuts and forgotten gems during the acid house and rave era, is one such example.

Melding elements of all that was popular in underground clubs at the time to create his own dancefloor-friendly sound worlds, Boninsegna amassed a huge catalogue between 1986 and '94, while hiding his involvement via an array of oddball aliases and opaque pseudonyms. Boninsegna's story first came to light four years ago when he appeared in Join The Future: Bleep Techno and the Birth of British Bass Music, Matt Anniss's critically acclaimed alternative history of UK dance music in the rave era. Now Cold Blow has joined forces with Musique Pour La Danse to deliver a much-needed anthology of his greatest productions and co-productions - many rare or hard-to-find - for the first time. Featuring 24 restored and remastered tracks stretched across two volumes on vinyl and digital, including a handful of previously unreleased tracks and mixes, and accompanied by detailed sleeve notes by Anniss, Notes From The Underground 1986-1994 is a joyful celebration of one of British dance music's most under-appreciated artists. The full breadth and depth of Boninsegna's rave-ready catalogue, as well as an indication of the sheer volume of aliases he utilised during the period, is explored in detail across the two-part compilation.

Volume two continues in a similar vein while devoting more disc space to Boninsegna's breakbeat-driven productions of the early 1990s. So, alongside more must-have tracks from the producer's Chill-released projects (Return of The Living Acid's surging acid thumper 'Big Dipper', MI7's twisted bleep and breaks monster 'Show I', and a couple of killer cuts alongside Mykey Tee as Original Clique), Cold Blow & Musique Pour La Danse have also made room for the proto-jungle brilliance of Ragga Head's 'Give The People Junglis', the tongue-in-cheek excellence of Ministry of Fear's 'Original Cliché', two top tracks as Napoleon, and the wild, acid breaks breathlessness of 'Monsoon' by Sykosis 451.

It all adds up to the definitive musical retrospective of a genuine underground, rave-era hero whose time in the spotlight may finally have arrived.

Welcoming Matty B who has previously released on Hardcore Vinylists & Cantina Cuts -to the Return of The Vibe Label for the Sounds Of '92 EP - Available on Flame yellow or Standard Black vinyl - This EP is 4 original tracks using well known samples encapsulating the sound and vibes of the best year of rave music - 1992 - New stuff made in the Old Skool Style

Dekmantel Festival in box. 7x12” vinyl box with download code. Limited Edition.

"Dekmantel Ten is a mirror of Dekmantel Festival. The 7x12" boxset includes seven records that mirror the seven stages to be found at the 2024 event, their 10th edition since 2013. The tracklisting isn't rigid — some of the musicians gathered here have in fact played at most of the available stages — but like a Möbius strip looping round, or a cat-and-mouse game, it's not hard to discern a symbiotic relationship. Split seven ways, DKMNTL100 is a testament to the art of curation and the importance of quality control.

At artist level, Dekmantel Ten finds room for several artists — including Karenn, Jeff Mills and Marcel Dettmann — who played at the very first Dekmantel Festival in 2013, and are by now impossible to detach. The Loop's disc contains names whose stories have dovetailed alongside the festival, concluding in memorable headline moments: Young Marco, Palms Trax and Alchemical Sisters, aka Eris Drew and Octo Octa.

Widen the lens and you'll find history from across the landscape: the laboratories of professorial techno (Dasha Rush, Steve Rachmad, DJ Nobu) and gilded halls of house (Steffi, Luca Lozano, Bufiman); varied soundsystem icons (Kode9, Adrian Sherwood, DVS1) meeting limelights of contemporary Amsterdam (upsammy, Identified Patient, Zohar); as well as the modern conduits channelling decades of outernational vibrations (Nick León, BADSISTA, Animistic Beliefs, Veracco and a great many more).

All 44 artists presenting exclusive material are indispensable into the Dekmantel story to date, and no doubt make up future developments over the horizon. That goes for the areas, too: Because while the seven stages found at Dekmantel Festival are individually resonant enough that they could become splinter festivals in their own right, it's that union which lends the core festival its strength.

The Streets’ first two albums ‘Original Pirate Material’ and ‘A Grand Don’t Come For Free’ helped to make the UK hip-hop/garage scene a force to be reckoned with on a global scale, and established Mike Skinner as a lyricist with a gift for delivering insightful observations about everyday life. Long out of print, both albums will be repressed and released on double vinyl on March 30th.

‘A Grand Don’t Come For Free’ emerged two years after their breakthrough debut album and The Streets had already become an international phenomenon. This time around, Mike Skinner constructed an album with an on-going narrative that was by turns hilarious, touching and energising. ‘Dry Your Eyes’ became The Streets’ first #1 single, while ‘Fit But You Know It’ and ‘Blinded By The Lights’ both hit the Top 10.

Behind the spatial pseudonym of the Parisian producer Adrien Erra hides an overflowing energy and a two-faceted music, rhythmic and aerial, and as well influenced by the house of Detroit as by balearic house inspirations of Ibiza. In 2016, he participated in the creation of the label Pont Neuf Records where he signed three first tracks on the Habemus Paname compilations of the label. His first two EPs 10 Feet Before The Horizon on Pont Neuf and Menorca on the label of the English producer Jimpster, Delusions of Grandeur are released them in 2018 and mark the beginning of a long series of release, with no less than 5 new EPs in 2 years: Odyssey and Talamanca on Pont Neuf, Venezia and Despair Roads on the Australian label Beats Of No Nation but also Mist in collaboration with the producer Tour-Maubourg on the label Strctr. The Parisian producer displays a sound universe always more complex and mature, and attracts many eyes on him, so much so that Mixmag describes him as «one of the artists of the moment to follow». His 1st album Hidden Places was released on May 13, 2022 on Pont Neuf and with it a turning point in the still young career of Cosmonection.

Producer Ma.to signs the 12th release of YoY. Two burning tracks to make you dance. Illustration by Francis & Marcel. The upcoming releases on Yoyaku’s main sub-labels start a dialogue between its own label and the gallery Chapelle XIV for limited editions. They are based on collaborations between French producers and illustrators. This Yoy release is part of the serie.

Hellfish and Bryan Fury, the Axe Gabba Murda Mob, are two of the biggest innovators in hardcore techno. Both have been pushing the genre in all kinds of directions for over two decades providing the pulse for thousands of parties around the globe. So with this in mind, we are honoured to present ‘Baby Eaters’, an earth shaking joyride to the very edge of the human psyche and beyond.

The eponymous A-side strikes terror into the hearts of men, splitting brain cells like atoms with destructive chain reactions of radical distortion and soul-stripping screams. Pure demonic catharsis, sound frequencies don’t get more violent than this. The B side ‘Acid Abyss’ is an LSD stained hardcore techno anthem where eerily cold voices are strangled by crunchy bellowing kick drums and bleeding 303s. Despite still being cranked up, the precision of the fills in this track offsets the chaotic kicks of the A-side, coming off almost subtle in comparison.

This single is for connoisseurs coming lovingly housed with artwork by the wonderful Jim’ll’Paint it, depicting the deadly duo conducting some rather grizzly research in their underworld studio.

Almost 3 years after the release of "Mathusalem", François Ier reveals his fiery successor, "Incendie". In keeping with his previous releases, this new opus has been conceived on the basis of enveloping layers, deep bass and harmonies that are always very rich. The melancholy dimension characteristic of his music is also omnipresent, although it sometimes asserts itself with a form of violence. Like its abundant cover, this new opus deploys an extremely varied range of sounds, most often evoking strong English influences, with breakbeat, jungle, drum'n'bass and new-wave rhythms, all supported by vocal samples with dancehall, reggae, r'n'b, reggaeton and hip-hop accents, resulting in a hybrid sound to say the least. "Incendie" is marked by the systematic use of the Prophet 8 synthesizer, whose wild, constantly shifting sound underlines the fiery character of this new opus.

The Hardcore Vinylists are one of, if not the the biggest groups on facebook catering to Vinyl Djs spinning the classic sounds of early 90s Uk rave and new material made in the old skool style.The Hardcore Vinylists record label showcases new and emerging talent from producers connected to the group and here Zhute fresh from a previous vs Ep with Bino is back with 3breakbeat retro rave tracks with big pianos, big vocals and breakbeats firing off.

There’s a time for everything. To fill in another piece of the puzzle. To make the matrix make sense. Trying not to hide it, trying not to fight it. Just trying to recognize it and keep on going.

This four-tracker, the first release on Sansibar’s 'Sin Sistema' imprint, borrows the best elements of formulas we love, and for a good reason.

‘We Rise’ a spiraling, mesmerizing infusion of yearning pads and a twisting acidic wormhole that leaves no room for doubt: this is Sans on form, and we have lift-off.

‘Elastic’ continues the lysergic theme, turning the dials towards a more sinister entity. Growing, realizing one’s power, and using it.

And on to the B-side, joining forces with Denzel, becoming ‘Sonic Minds’, getting into Techy territory. This is strictly festival business. Tried and tested throughout summer ’23 to devastating effect. Call an ambulance.

The final track ‘2k’ ups the Tech ante and sprinkles some murky UK Garage dust on top: skippy drums, a bouncy bass section, and dubby atmospheric

On this third vinyl only episode Svogue provides a trippy & dreamy journey into house and breaks, old school influenced.

All tracks produced and mixed by Matteo Floris, ideal for prime time underground clubbing actions.

Fresh from DOTT’s “Puppy Luv EP” and Rudoh’s “Vinland In Space EP”, Jugaar Records is back and this time with a full-length, double-pack vinyl, and digital compilation bringing together friends from Asia and Europe. The record is testament to the healthy place the Asian electronic music landscape finds itself in and those intrepid producers who are willing to explore new scenes and sounds. It's energy-crew from the off - with UK beatmaker Joe Koshin’s “Astro Wax”, a techy electro work-out that conjures images of futuristic cityscapes and dense urban mazes. Up next, Pakistan-born and label co-boss Rudoh maintains the electro vibe with cut-up hip-hop vocals sprinkled on top of a pulsating bassline in his “kof”. His records are being picked up by global tastemakers from Emerald to Roza Terenzi to DJ Masda. Don’t sleep!

Moving to the B-side, German-born, London mainstay Voigtmann shuffles and deals a steppy drum pattern and intricate synth-work, with a bassline drenched in that particular brand of funk to get the party going even at the most ungodly hour. Observatory resident Nic Ford closes this disk with an ambient excursion that summons spiritual rave voices from the deep laid atop a lilting synth loop. It’s typical of his ambient performances which have gained much notoriety in Vietnam of late.

Opening the second record is Egyptian gem Hassan Abou Alam whose recent outings on Naïve and Banoffee Pies have gained him much and well-deserved attention. Here, his “Gloom” combines twinkling IDM modes with heavy sub bass experiments primed to stop the most idiosyncratic dancefloors in their tracks. Up on C2, the Version, 3024 and Phonica Records graduate Yak adds breaks to the equation. His “Disk Full” brings together a haunting gated synth and razor-sharp beat programming to devastating effect. Melbourne based, Salt Mines Records honcho Shedbug concludes this side with his hopeful “A Lil Piece” whose soaring synth line will hit all the right emotional chords at all the right times.

On the final side Bangkokian Chalo reminds us why he is one of the masters of this increasingly fully formed scene. His Depth Charge is a muggy dub-laden, electro jam capable of rattling the weightiest sound systems in some of the most twisted raves at the end of some of the darkest Sois. The record is completed by New Delhi linchpin and Boxout.fm resident Monophonik, whose techno/electro “Tumbi” journeys out of the night into a euphoric sunrise moment that will be setting the dancefloors alight come festival season.

Fabio & Grooverider have been at the forefront of UK dance music for over 3 decades. This is the roots of their story told through music. The 2 London DJ's are part of the DNA of the global Jungle / D&B movement and they have remained relevant, cutting edge, authoritative and essential to this truly underground art-form since it's inception. RAGE could arguably be the ground zero of Jungle. The party was started at London's cavernous Heaven club by Fabio & Grooverider in 1988, at the height of Acid House fever that was making it's way up and down the motorways, slip-roads, fields and warehouses of the M25 and further beyond every weekend, troubling the nation, the police, your parents and the press as it went. RAGE was a different beast, it certainly channelled some of that Acid energy but pitted it against the new and exciting sounds emanating from Belgium, Amsterdam, Detroit, Sheffield, Essex and Hackney and in turn created a new style, a new sonic attitude and energy in the process. Rumbling bass-lines, narcotic synth rushes and roughly chopped and sped-up breakbeats all merged into a style that we now know as Jungle. Nothing like this had been heard before, this was a brand new style and it was coming out of London's West End and Fabio & Grooverider were the people firmly behind it.

At the turn of the ‘90s, British dance music gave birth to two interconnected styles that put heavy sub-bass front and centre: bleep techno and breakbeat hardcore. Such was their popularity that the styles inspired countless imitations and mutations, both within the UK and far beyond.

This is the story told in a major new retrospective from Musique Pour La Danse, Bleeps, Breaks + Bass, a carefully curated and well-informed collection of rare and sought-after tracks from the early ‘90s selected by label founders Olivier Ducret and Bunkerheadz. Available on two limited-edition double LPs (each presented in heavy cardboard gatefold sleeves on 180g, half speed-mastered vinyl), compact disc and digital download, Bleeps, Breaks + Bass features artwork by legendary graphic designer Trevor Jackson and extensive liner notes from dance music historian Matt Anniss, author of the acclaimed book Join The Future: Bleep Techno and the Birth of British Bass Music.

A quick glance at the track listing will confirm the depth and variety of Bunkerheadz and Ducret’s selections, which largely sidestep celebrated anthems in favour of overlooked gems, deeper cuts and genuine rarities – all of which have been re-mastered by legendary bleep producer and engineer Rob Gordon (Forgemasters, Xon, co-founder of Warp Records) and half-speed mastered/cut by Sidney Meier at Emil Berliner.

Across the collection you’ll find lesser-celebrated gems from significant figures in the scene (Unique 3’s long-overlooked ‘Digicality’, rare tracks from 4 Hero side projects R-Solution and Tek9); surprise bass-heavy excursions from popular outfits of the period (A Man Called Adam, A Certain Ratio and The KLF’s ‘What Time Is Love’ as remixed by The Moody Boys); significant but frequently forgotten underground anthems (outings from Boneshakerz, Hypersonic, Ubik and Kcc); secret weapons (Three Sons, Heychild, Techno Excursion); and even a sub-heavy classic from Norwegian ambient legend Biosphere. It all adds up to a significant celebration of one of the most fertile periods in the development of dance music with bleeps, breaks and bass.

Vinyl with many scuffs and hairlines

“It’s just too easy to make a standard dance track,” Aphex Twin said of his mindset back in 1992. “You’ve got to put a bit of thought into it to get something a bit different.”

‘Digeridoo’ was released on the Belgian R&S Records label in 1992, and originally peaked at #55 in the UK singles chart in May of that year. Over the last 32 years the track has become one of the essential Aphex Twin tracks in a gargantuan catalogue that continues to amaze and inspire.

“I wanted to have some tracks to play to finish the raves I used to play in Cornwall, to really kill everybody off so they couldn’t dance,” Richard D James, AKA Aphex, told Select magazine back in the 90s. “Digeridoo came out of that.”

Released as a 4 track EP that also included early Aphex productions (now classics) including the industrial, acidic clang of ‘Flap Head’ and hyperbolic futurism of ‘Isopropanol’, the release cemented a relationship with the R&S label that went on to release the ‘Xylem Tube’ EP and the pivotal album ‘Selected Ambient Works 85-92’ in the same year. The label’s owner & A&R Renaat Vandepapeliere reflected “When I first heard Aphex Twin’s music I said, ‘This is it!’, and everybody else said, ‘You’re crazy!’ …a lot of the hardcore R&S fans dropped us. To them it wasn’t music.”

‘Didgeridoo’ (Expanded Edition) is the first time the EP has been re-issued with extra material. Whilst digging in his DAT archive (allegedly stored in an airtight military ammo box), Richard James revisited the recordings, encoding them through a Nakamichi CR7e cassette deck, using the customised deck with vari-speed to encode at speeds “felt right at the time”. Alongside these CR7e versions, the original mixes have been remastered by Beau Thomas at Ten Eight Seven Mastering, offering a dilated insight into one of electronic music’s most endearing releases.

‘Didgeridoo’ (Expanded Edition) by Aphex Twin is available on R&S Records from 31st May 2024.

At the turn of the ‘90s, British dance music gave birth to two interconnected styles that put heavy sub-bass front and centre: bleep techno and breakbeat hardcore. Such was their popularity that the styles inspired countless imitations and mutations, both within the UK and far beyond.

This is the story told in a major new retrospective from Musique Pour La Danse, Bleeps, Breaks + Bass, a carefully curated and well-informed collection of rare and sought-after tracks from the early ‘90s selected by label founders Olivier Ducret and Bunkerheadz. Available on two limited-edition double LPs (each presented in heavy cardboard gatefold sleeves on 180g, half speed-mastered vinyl), compact disc and digital download, Bleeps, Breaks + Bass features artwork by legendary graphic designer Trevor Jackson and extensive liner notes from dance music historian Matt Anniss, author of the acclaimed book Join The Future: Bleep Techno and the Birth of British Bass Music.

A quick glance at the track listing will confirm the depth and variety of Bunkerheadz and Ducret’s selections, which largely sidestep celebrated anthems in favour of overlooked gems, deeper cuts and genuine rarities – all of which have been re-mastered by legendary bleep producer and engineer Rob Gordon (Forgemasters, Xon, co-founder of Warp Records) and half-speed mastered/cut by Sidney Meier at Emil Berliner.

Across the collection you’ll find lesser-celebrated gems from significant figures in the scene (Unique 3’s long-overlooked ‘Digicality’, rare tracks from 4 Hero side projects R-Solution and Tek9); surprise bass-heavy excursions from popular outfits of the period (A Man Called Adam, A Certain Ratio and The KLF’s ‘What Time Is Love’ as remixed by The Moody Boys); significant but frequently forgotten underground anthems (outings from Boneshakerz, Hypersonic, Ubik and Kcc); secret weapons (Three Sons, Heychild, Techno Excursion); and even a sub-heavy classic from Norwegian ambient legend Biosphere. It all adds up to a significant celebration of one of the most fertile periods in the development of dance music with bleeps, breaks and bass.

DJ Elephant Power (Nicolas Baudoux) based in Brussels, Les Octaves de la Musique awarded musician, is returning with his new EP ‘Blowing From Above’ on May 2024 with limited edition vinyls. The abundantly creative producer never tires of exploring the possibility of new sounds and rhythms. This time he delves deep into numerous genres from breakbeat to bass and he added more colours on each track which composed, performed and produced by himself. Mastering was done by Beau of Ten Eight Seven Mastering in UK. This new EP will be the first page of the upcoming album in June 2024. ‘Blowing From Above’ feat Eunsol Now you entered the city where you can feel the atmosphere of heat with full of energy. Under the welcome sign of breakbeat and bass, you breathe the dopamine of electronic dance deeply. Alongside baseline skyscrapers covering the sound of this city, mysterious Korean words lead you to hyper pop buildings. Across the traffic lights with barking dog and staccato synth arpeggio on the road, you reach the futuristic bridge between jungle and grime. ‘I Got You’ Under the repeated street lights of ‘I Got You’ scratch samples, you are in the car passing through continuous cowbel 808 sounds on the techno road. In front of the funk graffiti wall, a powerful metal guitar sprays the paint with no compromise. Buildings of synth grab you to follow the new banging club anthem. ‘Shades’ Curly hair architect, who is well known for perfectionism of repeated linear, built a new Mantronix satellite laboratory. This is located on the mountain of Detroit and built on the solid ground of analogue synth signals. Filtered synth and bassline are the main columns of the building. In the main lab, the next satellite has been developing on woah woah sound mattress. Visitors can experience zero gravity in the room in the middle of kick and snare which provides perfect unbalance. ‘Infinity’ A colourful new dish is ready for you. You will feel beautifully balanced and harmonious tastes of progressive techno, trap and bass. This astonished dish was sourced the very best of heavy bass and synth melody for well balanced scent with thoughtful contacts. Geomungo, a traditional Korean string instrument, enhances and amplifies stunning ingredients and it makes a highlight with amazing pairings.

Qui Existe isn't just an album, it's a kaleidoscopic journey through Mézigue's soul. Each track is a chapter, a glimpse into the artist's life, blending raw energy, rhythmic eloquence, and fearless experimentalism.

This release solidifies Mézigue's status as a visionary, unshackled by genre constraints.

2024 gets underway, Oath are thrilled to share the imprint’s latest long play, which comes courtesy of rising star Moonee – and you better believe its a solid gold stunner…

Francois Lefevre, the producer behind the Moonee name – alongside his group projects Twice Movement and Simple Request (with French House royalty Tour-Maubourg) – really optimizes all that is bold and beautiful about the House genre. The release of ‘Wabi Sabi’ on Groovence in 2022, then ‘Primal Groove’ on Slothboogie last year, has already helped Lefevre craft a significant space for himself under the Moonee name. His sound is one of tremendous melodic feel, with a plethora of rhythmic patterns and atmospheres being utilised to help create a bountiful sonic universe. His attention to how the groove unravels and how progression can be used softly but subtly really comes over strong, immersing the listener in a very warm place indeed. As beginnings to discographies go, this start is immensely strong, and one which provides a rock solid basis for all sorts of excellence to come forth.

‘Sandquest’ provides the next step in the journey for Moonee, and as LPs go it contains the same kind of depth as his first two EPs, but on display is a kind of magic that producers really harness on long plays. The record is encapsulated in the fundamentals of house, but to say that it sticks to a singular formula would be to do it a massive disservice – Moonee leaves nothing unturned when it comes to serving up the goods. Broken Beat and skippin’ rhythms play a big part in breaking up the uptempo numbers, as as a balancing act its handled very well indeed. The melodic usage is expertly handled on all tracks, and when breaking down the record you can feel that the journey from track to track has been considered superbly – be it in the club or at home.

‘Ouzo’ kicks the album off, and this number helps the listener land with two feet in the experience. The broken drums are spacious, allowing for all manner of wondrous melodic lines to drift in and out of view – delicately poised, numerous and effective, everything you could wish for from an opener. ‘Balagne’ then lands, and this one moves into familiar territories as we sweep through into a beautiful house cut, with the drums ringing true alongside some inspired key work. ‘Light on Earth’ keeps the vibes going on strong, with an expressive opening salvo opening up into a similar atmosphere that grows and grows, sweeping across the horizon line with delight. ‘Black Roses’ is next, and this one presents a warped yet beguiling shift through an intriguing atmosphere – drifting along, not a care in the world, glorious.

‘Arcadie’ then lands, and this one speaks softly but beautifully. The drums cast a long shadow, swinging along with plenty of room for the glorious keys to come into view, and its a track you will want to dip your head into time and time again. The title track then arrives, which immediately places the listener in a fast paced, emotive soundscape, one which bubbles along the top ends and gives such feels, no matter what context. ‘Evening World’ perfectly captures the feeling of that late evening early morning sway, with deep set drums being served under a gorgeous repeating chordal arrangement. To wrap the experience up, we have ‘Abundance’, and this track is 7 minutes of acid-y, grooving excellence – a perfect ender to a truly wicked album.

Two EPs down, and now this fantastic long play. Moonee really flexed his style and craft on this record, one which constantly delighted at every turn, providing an enriching spectrum of sounds that stick true to his production technique and to his craft. Not for one second do you stand still, but merely carried along on a wave of melodic euphoria, simply pleased to be along for the ride. The dips from heavy hitting though to softly spoken at handled so well, and as a result we are left with a pretty damn good way to enter in 2024. Winter has arrived, but warm your heart with this stunner.

Sticker on label

Younger Than Me announces his debut full length "The Golden Age Of Love", to be released on 90's Wax this coming March 2024. The record is the perfect example of the breadth of his irrepressible and unique sound. Featuring collaborations with Massimiliano Pagliara, Brame & Hamo and Pablo Bozzi. The artist is an Italian native known for a modern interpretation of '90s club music' - a dynamic blend of Progressive House, Trance, EBM, Breakbeat, and Techno ideas. This first album is a love letter to a deep-rooted passion for the idiosyncrasies of rave culture and the crossover points with contemporary electronic music.

Younger Than Me, an artistic project by Francesco Mingrino that is steeped in the nostalgia of ‘90s rave, yet not at all trapped in that past. A project that has cemented a special place in the electronic music scene with a string of records on labels like Bordello A Parigi, Amsterdam-Utrecht based platform XXX, Rotterdam’s Bar and Jennifer Cardini’s Dischi Autunno. To this point Francesco has pushed his fun yet forceful sound, with many releases on his own 90's Wax, and collaborations with people like Skatebård, Francesco Farfa, Timothy Clerkin and Curses (as Y2c).

"The Golden Age Of Love" as a package is curated in Younger Than Me's characteristic style. Opening with "Long Life Death", a track that sets the stage with a cinematic soundscape in a classic Carpenter vibe. Picking up the tempo "Zarathustra Dance" takes you right into the golden age itself, its low slung beat and carefully sequenced lead line pushes an ever building tension designed to crack any dancefloor. The track with Massimiliano Pagliara, "Eternal Sunshine Of Solitary Mind", is one of the highlights, perfectly building around a catchy lead with tight arpeggio and sequenced acid. Leading us into the 2nd half of the record "Sadness Is The Only Way To Happiness" is a proto-trance beast, inspired by that period in the early 90s when Trance was less bright lights and big stages and more dark rooms and smoke filled spaces, an ever building progressive run of haunting vocals, rave stabs and rolling bass.

Whilst YTM is at home presenting dancefloor focussed material, we see him explore the other side too, with "Memory Is A Clock" like the earlier "Vortix", he ditches the 4x4 for breakbeat territory. Whilst the bass keeps the solid metronome you would expect, "Memory Is A Clock" is a track that takes a few moments, contemplative melody and trademark arpeggios take the lead. When it comes to the other collaborations on the record, the appearance of Brame And Hamo on "Raver's Heart Is A Mess" sees them lean into the Progressive nature both artists love so much. Then Pablo Bozzi lends his own unique outlook to "We Don't Know The Way, We Just Stay" in one of the standout tracks, epitomising Younger Than Me’s ability to create profound experiences.

The album concludes with "Music Will Never Stop, Heartbeat Will Never Fade, Party Will Never End", less of a title and more of a personal philosophy – the perpetual essence of rave culture and its timeless impact on music. A rhythmic belter, juxtaposed with incendiary synth-lines and staple catchy sequence work, finishing the record with one of the true highpoints. In addition the release also features four digital bonus tracks, including "The Other Face Of Loneliness" and a Prog Dance Reshape of one of the records more eclectic cuts "Zarathustra Dance" all offering an extended exploration into the creative landscape YTM inhabits.

"The Golden Age Of Love" is a debut album that ticks all the boxes; it's a celebration of a bygone era through the lens of the contemporary. Younger Than Me stands as a testament to the enduring spirit and evolving nature of the music that began in the ‘90s rave scene, with an LP that pushes Love, Progression and Fun to the forefront.

44 Tours unites it's local artists to fulfill the prophecy a drunk shaolin-cyborg once told them. The four robotic monks stepping up for this EP (Alder, Same O, Marino & Berg Jaär) have each developed their own secret breaksy adventure tactics to combat a future led by brotherhoods of wealthy capitalistic humanoids. Alder opens up the fight in pure detroit-electro style. Nested pads nestled in a huge palette of colors and tones which takes us to a galaxy far, far away. Next is Same O, despite being the youngest padawan is still showing some ghetto and ballsy moves. Wavy and snaky synthwork over a fast think-break pattern and a ravy bassline, no less of a banger here. Breaking through to the other side: the most loyal soldier on the team, Marino aka the cat yelling at man. He delivers a 303-driven weapon that will break any cyborg neck for sure. The end is surely near, to finish up Berg-jaär drops a bassy polyrhythmic manoeuvre, the attention is focused on the complexity of drums and a minimalistic and grooving approach throughout the track. Fight is over, humanoids. The future is saved from the capitalist robots, their world of Confrérie, Pactole & Dividendes is over. Or is it?

San Francisco based DJ and bass extraordinaire Farsight knows how to make an entrance, first bursting onto the scene with his adventurous and daring EP 'Wisdom' back in 2016. At the time Farsight's music sounded like it had been beamed from another planet and has played an important role in the crosspollination of genres we've seen in recent years. Farsight has gone on to release on Scuffed Recordings, Maloca and Noire State, remaining firmly fixed on the future of club music. Now his blend of trap, jersey club, reggaeton and dancehall makes its way across the Atlantic with six mind-sizzling cuts for Brakes 'N' Pieces vol. 23.

Opening track 'Triangulation' combines rolling drums with party-starting vocal samples and steady whistles, letting listeners know we're really off! 'Mr Right' then enters the fray with throbbing subs, ravey stabs and a vocal that sits halfway between fun and outright menacing. The A side comes to a close with 'Leaving Las Vegas' a dubstep infused cut of choppy breaks and wide-eyed melodies. A masterclass in raising tension, this track will shut down any club, please use wisely.

'Lesser Light' shows Farsight's love for bass exploration; it's looming shadow pressing amongst some of the darkest corners of electronic. A unique brand of grime infused techno. 'Water Margin' delves even further, adopting a more measured pace for those heads down moments. The record comes to a close with 'Fulminous Edge' and is a reflection of the artist's darkest material. The drums still have a familiar spring in their step but the track's melodic bassline is mesmerizing; resulting in a melancholy trance that deserves a second play.

Zodiac Childs present their debut album “Atoms To Atoms” on Zodiac Wax across three pieces of vinyl in a full and vivid expression of the pair’s passion for classic breaks and the UK’s hardcore legacy. Zodiac Childs have been cultish in their release schedule previously - releasing sell out vinyl on their label Zodiac Wax which aims to work within the standards of rave culture’s key fixtures - records that are made to be played loud in the dance. ‘This album is a proper snapshot into the mind of Zodiac Childs & the foundation of what’s to come. It’s all about a genuine vibe, a feeling, a love for playing with energy & emotion. A rich tapestry of sound, not being confined to a specific genre & a constant obsession with analogue synths & hardware reverbs’ - Zodiac Childs Released on triple vinyl, cut by Simon Davey at The Exchange with a precision-perfect tri-fold sleeve designed by Ben Rix - the release has been executed in the most sonically and dynamic process as possible in a highly elegant package. In addition to presenting 8 new original tracks, 4 of ZC’s best received previously released works that have been remastered for the album - Goblin, Circuits, O to the M and Basic Process. The album is designed to move the listener through the moods and feelings of a full night of rave experience - with an atmospheric opener in Submersion setting the tone. Circuits follows - a pure anthem for the convoys of cars, filled with weekend warriors riding their first chemical waves. The release moves through the emotions and sounds that ZC are about - building off their hardcore style breaks and moving between touching melodies, wiggling 303 lines, guttural low end frequencies and spacious hardware reverbs are a constant theme in ZC’s work. Atoms to Atoms is designed to take you through to the iconic spaces and movements of a transcendent party experience - from the inner city warehouses that set the scene for Breach all the way to the energy of abandoned northern English factories and mills, rusted and empty like on Northern Fury. It’s a timely reminder of the sheer heights of joy and ecstasy that UK dance music culture was designed for produced and presented in an expert package.

Fans of Flippen Bits and Shall Not Fade are no strangers to the infinite and intricate sounds of the Welsh producer and on ‘Plastic Brain’, his Ano Ano debut, we’re treated to another deep dive through electro, techno, acid and breaks.

As we continue the five part journey to say goodbye to the Telomere Plastic series we have Telomere 020.3 now available for preorder!
This five tracker VA, features producers, Hiroyuki Kato, Six Dreams, Ty Serna Sherman C & Konerytmi!

We begin off the record with ‘Black from Hiroyuki Kato. This long play is over 9 minutes and is a beautifully structured deep & house tune. Perfect for your summer day time sets!

Next on the A2 we have ‘Static Es’ by Six Dreams, This moody minimal breakbeat tune is filled with heavy bass & lush chords, the perfect track to slow things down for a few minutes during your sets!

On the B1 we have Ty Senrna who delivers a whacky groover! This acidic tech tune will work wonders and bring the spooky & trippy energy to the dance floor!

B2 is a tripped out phat acidic break beat tune from the mighty Sherman C. With some tripped out vocals & classic Sherman breaks & bass, this one will get the dance floor rockin’ full speed!

Lastly, we close out the release with a classic tune from Konerytmi. As expected we are gifted with his signature electro & bass beats!

"The Flying Guillotine 2" is the bloody sequel to Serenace's first appearance on Shaw Cuts in 2019, continuing the head-lopping violence with a group of freedom fighters lead by the heroic Ma Teng battling against the evil despot Emperor Yung and his reign of terror.

Teng has developed a protective device, similar to a spiky metal umbrella, that allows him to defend against the deadly flying guillotine attacks of the violent regime. "Current", its bombastic drum patterns, razor-sharp synth waves and vicious vibe strengthens the rebels to resist the brutal assaults.

But the Emperor immediately reacts, creating a double flying guillotine to counter Ma Teng's iron umbrella and the rebel union is left defenseless again. "Aiming From A Distance", a vivid breakbeat cut combining rolling percussion, arpeggiated synth chords and sirens from hell, raises the rebels' hopes to give them another answer.

Secret insurgent Na Lan infiltrates the Emperor's inner circle by gaining his trust with a group of female warriors whom he allows to train with the flying guillotine palace guards. However, Na Lan only wants to steal the plans of the improved weapon and deliver it to the rebel squad, in order to devise another counteracting force. With the crisp bassline and the energy-filled breaks of "Test 21", the rebels can gain an insight into the elaborated guillotine and find a possible way to defeat it.

Farron's profound techno version of "Current" brings in the necessary tension for the final showdown. The improved double flying guillotine VS a new secret defensive system. Will the rebels be able to team up and defeat the tyrant once and for all? No matter what happens, the saga continues.

The Beat by SPUN – West Coast Breakbeat Rave Electrofunk 1988-1994

In the late 1980s, Disco was taking a backseat to the burgeoning psychedelic scene in San Francisco, marking a pivotal shift in musical culture. A dynamic transformation was underway as the younger generation sought a fresh auditory adventure, all while the devastating AIDS epidemic cast a somber pall over the city's nightlife. Amidst this evolving backdrop, a subtle yet distinct sonic movement quietly emerged within the confines of San Francisco’s vibrant club scene, often referred to as "The Beat." Although Hip-Hop, New Wave, Gothic, Punk, and the burgeoning Modern Rock genre held considerable sway, the pre-RAVE clubs in SF witnessed the fusion of these genres into a unique amalgam of sound that insiders dubbed “The Beat.” This musical tapestry encompassed everything from Hip-Hop and Freestyle to Industrial, New Wave, Boogie, Miami Bass, and Techno – the unifying thread being the distinctive vibe that characterised this eclectic mix.

As House, Techno, and Raving gradually gained prominence along the West Coast, a distinctive interpretation of these evolving sounds took root. Drawing inspiration from influential hubs like New York, Chicago, Detroit, Europe, and notably the UK, which saw a wave of talented young DJs migrate to California, San Francisco became the backdrop for its own version of the second Summer of Love. While the exact chronology might spark debate – some recalling '92, while others leaning towards '93 – what remains indisputable is the era spanning from 1990 to 1994, an unparalleled epoch of exuberant dancefloor revelry on the western shores.

In the face of limited backing from major labels or established independent dance music entities of the time, a grassroots movement of labels and producers emerged organically, ardently championing this distinct sound and catapulting it onto the global stage. This sonic identity was deeply influenced by “the Beat,” acting as a creative wellspring that informed the musical landscape. While the tracks compiled in these volumes might not encompass the entirety of this transformative musical epoch, they offer a vivid snapshot of the melodious tapestry that coloured San Francisco and the broader West Coast during that era. Each track featured stands as a 100% Sure Shot that was played heavily by DJ Spun back in those very heady days.

Three classy cuts constructed upon deep and emotional yet danceable narratives, crafted for the fond memories that will be made in the long and warm months ahead.

The first single from the Mathlovsky album Yassssin, “​ The Heat”​ i​ s Exactly what is said on the label: Pure Fire! Featuring the talents of album collaborator and live drummer Gregory Simons, and vocalist duo Jason and Rhonda, this single is the maximum hype pressure coming off the LP. Label boss and global octopus extraordinaire Submerged does the B Side honors with a tasty drum n bass tempo acceleration version. It’s important to rewind and understand how we got here in the first place… Belgian electronic music giant Mathlovsky has continued his constant evolution, with new live performance with a live drummer. Celebrating and promoting this new partnership, the album Yassssin​ (​4 S’s if you want to make it easy on yourself)​ ​is being released on double vinyl by Ohm Resistance this Spring. With 3 video singles, we decided to make a special one-off, limited Fire Red 7” to go along with the first single. Since 2019, Mathlovsky has invited drummer Gregory Simons to perform at his live shows, to add another layer of punk & funk fueled acoustic drums. Not replacing the electronic heavy hitting beats but by looking at his drumset as another instrument, Mathlovsky’s music has entered another realm. As such, a new era has begun. Yassssin, the first album with Simons’ acoustic drums as an added weapon of dancefloor destruction, is the perfect representation of what Mathlovsky live is all about. After ten years of dwelling in the rave scene and band scene alike, Mathlovsky has fused all his influences and tastes into one cohesive album. Inviting his talented Belgian music friends to contribute a voice, an instrument and overall energy, this album is a ride to never forget. For both ravers and moshers, Mathlovsky has crossed boundaries between worlds and begins this decade with a massive bang.

Dedicated 21st Century polymath Kay Logan continues to expand her soundworld in every direction at once with her Helena Celle alias. A maximalist internal landscape of broken Jungle patterns, distorted synths and heavily warped instrumentation bent out of cognisance, »If You Can’t Handle You At Your Worst, Then I Don’t Deserve Me At My Best« is Logan’s most danceable, most fun and most gloriously congealed record to date.

Conceived in part as a response to her 2016 debut release »If I Can’t Handle Me At My Best, You Don’t Deserve You At Your Worst,« 2023’s update employs similar principles (degrading technology, the joy of chance, an outsider’s gaze onto the dance floor, an embracing of the occult) to delirious effect. If »I Can’t Handle« was lo fi and fragile in its technoid recasting of dance music, here Logan’s confidence allows a frantic playfulness that retains the spontaneity of all her output. It’s the work of a creative spirit revelling in the possibilities of sound, rhythm, texture and pattern.

Helena Celle’s music opens up psychic space in front of the listener and invites them in. In this world, sounds and tropes once recognisable are rendered fractal, spectral and continually melting in and out of recognition. Simply put, Helena Celle might be detouring Drum & Bass, Techno and Breakbeat with a prankster’s grin but the result is pure ecstasy crushed into a part of the listener’s consciousness hitherto untroubled.

Since her 2016 debut, Logan has released music as Time Binding Ensemble, Otherworld, in groups Anxiety and Herbert Powell and myriad variations on the Helena Celle moniker. This album is a riposte to her debut and updates its principles. Joyful, degraded Jungle breaks, Cyberpunk synth meltdown, noise solos, true head music, like the furthest Aphex Twin being deep friend in a Glasgow backwater.

Aver created the first draft of the album between finding out about Joey's passing and attending his funeral. He arranged musical collages out of voice messages and breaks he and Joey had sent one another alongside previously unreleased material he made during lockdown with Doron Segal. The process initially served as a form of musical therapy, but after completing it and sharing it with a few friends, Aver realised that it might also bring joy to other people that knew Joey, as well as introducing those that didn't to the lovely ginger fellow behind Village Live.

The finished album features cuts by Jazz T, Evil Ed and Omas, as well as additional voice messages donated by Kuartz and Matt Smith. Mr. Krum has done all the design work for the the booklet and the gatefold cover, which features a photo-collage by Aver of the Aroe piece outside Rarekind Records, as well as the huge blockbuster at Black Rock, Brighton.

RIP Joey Deez

Modeselektor and Apparat collaborate on this eclectic album. A moody yet bouncing record with some ridiculous Dubstep basslines, 2-Step drums, paranoid Berghain Techno and emotive vocals. A clever and thoroughly entertaining affair. The Special Edition includes awesome visuals courtesy of Die Pfadfinderei and a brilliant Shackleton remix of the Übertrack Rusty Nails.

It feels like it’s time to thank the people who continuously give me energy. No matter in which form. Whether as the music they produce, hugs, compliments, mistakes I’ve learned from, encouragements, critical feedback or just listening. This release goes out to all the people who have supported me on my path of life so far. I am tremendously grateful for the life I am allowed to live. The number 7. It represents my numerology and there are seven chakras in the body.

Killer debut LP by Lol K starring vocals by Coby Sey and LA Timpa, following the Londoners’ EP for Mica Levi and co’s Curl Recordings with a crafty set of queer, sensuous pop, configured in brilliant, surprising ways for Rabit’s Halcyon Veil. The six songs and corresponding instrumentals of ‘The Breeze’ explore ideas of escapism, belonging and inner city isolation in an up-to-date vernacular firmly blunted by sparing, crisply defined but shapeshifting production. The album clearly marks a concerted development of Lol K’s sound - especially compared to their oblique appearances on the ‘Born Under a Bad One’ (Curl, 2018) EP - with the duo’s CJ Calderwood and Junior XL more confidently venturing their vocals into the mix this time, switching between melodic hooks and blunted hush, to a rave-punkish prang out and puckered chamber composition with lowkey rude and innovative production to match.

Deep within the freeway buzz of dystopian Los Angeles, there exists an unstoppable sonic gathering of minds, who call themselves “Fast At Work” and abide by a belief in the deeper potential of higher tempos. However, lately, there has been some debate about the true existence of the Fast At Work mantra. Just as the debate was reaching its climax, seemingly out of nowhere, a helicopter emerged containing a musical capsule from the future (or possibly aliens). The group accepted this music as scripture, and coined it “Soft Fascination,” – naming group member Carré as their chosen matriarch. Through the title hymn “Soft Fascination,” Carré preached a proto vision of a classic dubstep bassline and tender pads. With “Cute Mad,” Carré magically induced a sense of positivity and bubbly bass. And with the third offering, “Glowing,” she pushed her audience closer to understanding simplicity and space. Finally, in an effort to expand their gospel to the furthest realms of their musical world, she recruited Priori and James Bangura to create their own missions, rooted in the original offerings of the alien helicopter’s capsule disc. While Priori expertly rearranged “Soft Fascination” into a shiny mind-melter, James Bangura expanded on the lightness of “Glowing,” creating his own lucid dreamscape of deep melancholia.

One Way Trip to Gaia, Alberta Balsam's debut album, propels listeners into uncharted territory, delivering a futuristic fairytale--a utopian world that serves as a sonic refuge from reality. Building on the electro-IDM foundations of her earlier releases, this record evolves into an odyssey of bass-driven beats, breakbeat rhythms, and dub-infused atmospheres. As her most vocal project to date, the album showcases her ability to merge pop sensibility with otherworldly sound design, all while maintaining that club-ready energy. Limited edition: pressed on a black and silver marbled vinyl. Sleeve design by Timaeus.

Brazilian-born, USA-based record label Concreta Sala arrives to the scene in 2021 with a celebration of Brazilian Bass and the culmination of 25 years of research and digging through their EP compilation series Proibidœ. This inaugural volume showcases an original and remastered 20-year-old techno track by the intentionally elusive multi-instrumentalist El Presidente Hi-Fi. Initially released in the year 2000, the aggressive but precise rhythms of “Drop Your Guns” are reworked by three emerging Brazilian artists: Sisto, Mau Maioli, and Hugo Frasa. With the original press limited to 150 copies and instrumental stems lost to the wind back in 2002, Concreta Sala is incredibly proud to bring this release to a new generation of dance floors and headphones via three unique remixes. The original track is transformed into a certified weapon, remastered and repressed in a limited run of only 300 vinyl copies with the highest audio quality. From a listener’s perspective, both sides of Proibidœ VOL. I are loaded with ammunition for any given moment.