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Vinyl with many scuffs and hairlines

Domestic Exile warmly welcome the return of Grim Lusk, coming full circle to follow up 2018’s ‘sunp0101’ after releasing under their Dip Friso and Sunny Balm aliases in the interim. ‘Diving Pool’ is a hallucinogenic concoction of marshy, aquatic, oscillated dubs and skittering, microtonal beat experiments. Grim Lusk's signature production style is in full effect, often occupying some liminal space nearing offbeat discordancy, but beautifully pulling together on the brink. Gelatinous machine funk rhythms and sweet, syrupy dub bass ooozing with a vibrant convergence of bright psychedelic greens, yellows and oranges, akin to bubbling sulphur pools and lava lakes, are present throughout the 6 tracks; Nuovo takes late 80’s drum machine patterns and twists them up with rough-cut vocal chops and long-form sampling of a 60’s film on the first iteration of ‘Il Gruppo”. Striding into the turbulent sea, Partans is kept jovial by rim shots, cymbals and snares fed back over the forward bass buzz. Not Enough is a bizarre, primordial, stretched-out gloop sludge half-speed version of the B-side track Too Much, twisted into new rhythmic territory by an off-kilter breakbeat sample. Diving Pool takes crushed, bouncing drum machines and loop-focussed experimentation to find incidental interplay between the two, whilst somehow retaining ebullient make-you-movable gusto. Angular rhythm and zealous sample manipulation seep through in Too Much, live drums patched, extrapolated and pulled further out in the mix, where jump cuts between familiar vocal chops and distorted tape delay contort manically- a warped, swinging echo of Slum Village's ‘I Don’t Know’. Wazoo rounds things out with the most club-leaning moment of the record, a saturated, throbbing atmosphere hanging over a beat-up, lurching drum sample layered with malleable pitched percussion and fuzz guitar. Peculiar shapes, fragmented shards of rhythmic patterns, crushed, crystallised snares, and congealed, jelly-like dubs; the music embodies a sense of carefree fun and playfulness, where dissolving layers of organic echoes, warm, slippery reverbs, and expansive phaser EFX stretch out into nebulous space…

Prolific and singular Japanese producer Hoshina Anniversary presents Hyakunin Isshu, a two tracker of extended jaunts deeper into the mystery than he’s yet dared to venture. With a growing reputation for sizzling productions combining propulsive house rhythms with gyrating arpeggios and textured sound design punctured by jazz-inflected keys, Hyakunin Isshu further expands the limits.

On Hyakunin Isshu, Hoshina Anniversary paces it out over the course of two complimentary side-long runs. The A side Karakurenaini rides on a steady 4/4 as cycling percussion loops, squelchy acid basslines and angular piano chords float in and out of the mix. Deployed and rinsed to peak effect, it's relentless repetition evolves just enough to get completely lost in.

On side B Kirigirisu slows the pace down to a crawl, a lurching rhythm and haunting riff ascending almost to the point of vertigo toppling and giving way to a sci-fi drum break, a stirring prolonged break and triumphant culmination, it’s slow-mo future strut equally indebted to melodies of the past.

Hyakunin Isshu is named for Ogura Hyakunin Isshu, an anthology of delicate, reflective Japanese poetry comprised of works from the 12th and 13th centuries. Both tracks share their titles with different entries in the series.

Hoshina Anniversary is the alias of Yoshinobu Hoshina, a reverent reinterpreter of jazz, dance music and traditional Japanese instrumentation. The last couple of years have seen the producer from the Tokyo suburbs release a torrent of inimitable missives on esteemed maisons disques like ESP Institute, Osare Editions, Alien Jams and Youth. Also forthcoming in the summer of 2022 is an LP on Impatience.

Humanoid Gods offers Fixed Rhythms four dark breakbeat, dubstep tinged, heavy padded stuffers from the temporal Aside. Hark!

Confronting the status quo...how can obscene wealth be more important than human lives? Where have the humanoid gods come from, and who do they serve? Did we create them? Are they a construct of our own imagination and desires?

Extraterrestrial transmissions cut to Earth's club-preferred loudness, replicated on 300 copies of 12" black vinyl.

The last couple of years have been a Dead Season for most of us. We discovered that things we deemed important were, in fact, of no consequence, or things we took for granted, like handshakes, hugs, kisses…were all lost for an unforeseeable long time. This Dead Season saw us changing the way we lived our music, too: once together, now apart; once playing, listening, dancing in the same room, now entrusting our notes to the Ether, like messages in bottles committed to the seas, in the hope whomever gets them, will understand their secret meaning. These songs are the cries of our souls staring into the Abyss. The desperation, the frustration, the will not to break under extreme circumstances, but also the love, the hope to get soon back to a life we can look forward to. We dedicate these feelings to all the brave souls who are still fighting to make it through this Dead Season, and to those who didn’t make it. Iamnoone: philippe marlat seth

Further on the trail of 90s sonic specters, Die Orakel releases Ike‘s Stone Diviner EP, an affiliate with Index Records. The titular track amalgamates the momentum of sparse yet heavy weight breakbeats with the warmth of lush pads, and literally reverberating 90s trance or IDM elements along granular rave signals. The beauty of its subsequent tracks lies in their well-tempered, fresh exploration of past sonic phenomenons, devoid of today’s retromania.

Altered Circuits dives deeper in the world of playful and versatile club music with roots in the early 90's! There's an obvious parallel between Ildec's DJ performances and his own music. Part of a scene with a focus on extended, broad-minded sets, the Ibiza-based artist lets his yearning to unearth and play obscure gems flood into his production process. The "Ahora Si EP" is testament to this adventurous spirit as it tackles a wide array of tempos, styles and moods. Opener "El Principio" and closer "Grt Plschr" display Ildec's fondness of hazy, recondite atmospherics. With its sustained ambient chord, delay-washed newsreader samples and manipulated themes, the former sounds like a fever dream radio bulletin. On the latter, a broody motif meanders alongside loosely played drums, while a buried bass guitar occasionally reveals itself. "El Break Del Dia" furtherly explores some of these elements, but this time with the dance floor front of mind. Languidly morphing bass sequences and staccato synth salvos build up anticipation. When a slowly emerging, ceaselessly arpeggiating organ lead finally materialises, the track explodes. Natural flow is partly traded for sturdier form on the remainder of the EP. "El Break De La Noche" lets an ever-modulating lead groove alongside rigid, dry drum beats. Descending tom fills, truncated squeaks and a top layer LFO gone haywire complete this sparse yet exciting cut. "La Nueva Version" has a similarly efficient bassline as its bedrock. An interplay of zaps, risers, transposed percussion, and other dusty cartridge samples pulls it left and right while subtle disorienting hints of speech thicken the mix. On "Modificacion", Ildec moulds his take on progressive and tech house into its toughest shape. A druggy, bleepy lead twirls in and out of the track, carried by the road-tested combo of a taut drum pattern and a piercing backbeat bass. Ominous chords and equally menacing vocals mark its aim: to create tension in the club. It is a standout on a diverse, daring EP we are delighted to present as the fifth release on our label.

Gerd Janson & Prins Thomas Remixes

Still in shrink but opened with hype sticker. tiny wear. Limited edition.

For the 20th Pleasure Club release we are very happy to present an EP from two core members of the Pleasure Club family - Johnny Hunter & Remi Mazet.

The "Passing Through Fyah EP" comes via the connected mind of both artists, with a record which spans and blurs the realms of house, techno and electro. Characterised by dubwise basslines, cosmic synth work and expert drum programming, this one feels like the perfect way for us to celebrate the two zero milestone.

A big shout out to everyone who has supported the label until now. We really appreciate it <3

few paper scuffs

Fresh off of a remix for Grimes’ “My Name is Dark”, producer Julien Bracht has been powering through Cv19 studio seclusion on full-power, with a distinct vision for brighter days ahead. Bracht’s new album, “Now Forever One,” an emblem of dark analog synthwave, is set to drop June 11. Bracht’s first solo album under his own namesake is cut with surgical precision for the shoegazing astral sound travellers who long to break out of their pandemic quarantines, and reconvene for techno-induced ascension. The album’s first single, “Melancholia,” and it’s accompanying video, is already breaking hearts and charts. An exquisite sonic hybrid of communal revelry and profound introspection, “Now Forever One,” focuses Bracht’s multilayered craftsmanship on resolving this era’s angst with sensory exploration and optimism. As a lifelong drummer, Bracht’s insatiable musical energy lead him to bang out his first 3 EPs within one year of first being signed in 2011-12. In 2015 he founded the band Lea Porcelain with Markus Nikolaus in London. Their hypnotic post-rock debut release in 2017, “Hymns to the Night,” gained instant acclaim from UK tastemakers Lauren Laverne, Steve Lamacq and Zane Lowe, to name a few. The lads broke back onto the international stage with dates on several major festivals around Europe, including the Leeds/Reading Festival, Great Escape Brighton and Latitude. Rich output combined with the inclusion of live drums in his solo live sets quickly gained Bracht recognition and slots on the global tour circuit. “Now Forever One” forges Julien Bracht’s transition from techno djing, while continuing the explorations of texture and timbre over functional song structures from Lea Porcelain, to a more open-ended search for the aural sublime — the substrate on which music, life and light glide to create momentary nodes of meaning in an increasingly meaningless sociopolitical atmosphere. These are crucial themes to Bracht’s process and approach. “The intention in my music is to strengthen people’s awareness and minds… I want us all to gather in spirit and stick together.” The album exemplifies Bracht’s hunt for elemental juxtaposition with the warm Prophet 6’s sawtooth howls and bright pads against chillingly indifferent pulsing basslines and percussion. Clocking in at just under 65 minutes, “Now Forever One’s” tracks are sequenced to take the listener through the full emotional arch of a 15-hour rave, with an emphasis on those moments of collective epiphany where heaving techno floors become the perfect microcosm for an idealistic and interconnected future. Interspersed with improvisational one-takes, the album submerges the listener in polyrhythmic meditations, of which “Streets” and “Nocturne” are standout examples, and soars on the vaulted synth melodies of future dance floor favourites “Melancholia” and “Dreams of Euphoria.” Sascha Ring of Apparat & Moderat puts it perfectly: “I played “Melancholia” the night I got it at Mutek Festival in Mexico City, and instantly knew it’ll shine on a big floor at the right time. It’s just the right balance of majestic melodic deepness.” The sounds are both triumphant and exploratory. Greater than the sum of its parts, Bracht’s latest release hints at the artist’s emerging potential for nailing our moment’s zeitgeist; learning to live smaller while constantly seeking higher heights. Inhabiting the fertile ground between solitary rumination and dance-floor convenance, the launch of “Now Forever One’s” lunar expedition into the techno oblivion of pandemic lockdown is oddly fitting.

With 7". Tiny wear.

Originally from Manchester now based in Lewes, Kalli co-runs the Goddezz parties and record label.

Sonically, Kalli can't hold back when interconnecting the dots of hoover synths, electro, gritty rave and off-kilter weirdness.

Soft Play is a primal techno beast with punk undertones and monstrous hoover rave drop.

Gems Per Capita shows Kalli in full club mode, unleashing a bass heavy electro tinged track with a killer Acid break; a peak time weapon.

The memory of trying to naively connect to an identity, along with searching for daily eccentric enjoyment in a rural, rainy post-industrial town’ Kalli.

‘Zones Of Significant Times’ fuses traditional Break beat Structures with suffocating sonic violence & darkness. 11 Gothinc-Industrial HIP HOP Instrumentals. Kareem, Founder of Zhark Recordings Berlin, has been presenting numerous vinyl releases in th eIndustrial Noise/Techno Spectrum. but has often explored Hip Hop terrain which lead to gloomy with artists such as Dälek, Shadowhuntaz, Audio 88, Paul St. Hilaire and Jaeda Glasgow (the Bonk)… Download code included…

Kid Ginseng’s 3rd in a series of sample-delic electro 12»s embracing the sound of the diskette between 8-16 bit sound influenced by DJ Di’jital, Arabian Prince, and the LA X-men which consisted of Unknown DJ and DJ Slip. The whole LA Techno Hop label is a massive influence. Of course compatible with a Detroit electro set. Kid Ginseng is an individual.

"Quarter Water by Kid Ginseng is a smash hit. A must-buy for the electro heads. Pick up a copy today!" - DJ Di'jital (Underground Resistance, Direct Beat) "Quarter Water gets me going like strong caffeine. A deep cerebellum massage. Any and every Kraftjerkz release is a gem. Kid Ginseng is something up-front in my monthly listening." - Money Mark (Beastie Boys, Mo Wax) "People haven't heard lows and snares like this from me before." - Kid Ginseng (Kraftjerkz, Tom Tom Club)"

Following in the tradition of artists like Detroit in Effect and DJ Di’jital, Kid Ginseng brings us another dose of classic, analog-driven electro with his newest EP, Twenty One. The EP features two versions of three hyper-catchy cuts, and both the remixed versions and originals are capable of holding their own. Kid Ginseng’s work might be compared to early K1 and DJ Godfather, and Twenty One gives us a dose of drum sounds with character, while embracing the sound of the sampler by using diskettes à la 1980's LA electro. Detroit electro, though, continues to be a central inspiration, and the first cut, “Keep Your Distance”, is a prime example of this. The track features watery analog elements that build around a video-game inspired vocal sample, and its lo-fi percussion gives it an authentic, analog touch. The remix double of this track, “Keep Your Distance (Trashcan mix)”, has a different feeling altogether but nothing is lost. A muted electro synth melody hooks us, as does slapping, steady percussion. But “Keep Your distance” is just the first example of the infectious melody and raw character that permeates the entire EP. “Bang the Boom (Bare Bones Mix)” delivers a similar vibe, but leans darker with a deep, gritty bassline that fuels the shadowy force of the track. It’s twin remix, “Bang the Room”, maintains the same beat structure but switches it up with some added vocals that bring extra fire to the dance track. The real standout, however, is the dance floor banger “Roller Rink Scratch”, which employs classic scratch samples from DJ Quest. The samples not only energize the body and mind, but they maintain that lo-fi feel, and therefore, rather than dominating the track, keep it balanced. In fact, for such power bangers, the EP feels extremely balanced, and nothing feels out of place. All elements blend well together and deliver an incredibly rewarding listen that is pretty much guaranteed to get you out of your seat. It’s one of Kid Ginseng's best yet.

There seems to be something in the water down in Hastings as a veritable hive of electronic music artists have been busy making beats in ever growing numbers down there - including Kim Cosmik. Kim's debut on 20/20 Vision is an impressive and highly original mix of techno, electro, broken beats and industrial sounds, destined to destroy the long-anticipated dance floor revival. Although overall the record is abrasive, hard-hitting and takes no prisoners - beneath the surface, in tracks like 'Drifting' we also find nuances of emotional musicality that shed vast streams of light on the proceedings. The record does indeed kick off with intent though with 'Night Flight' - a blistering techno workout that would resonate magnificently in the mighty Berghain hall. There's no holding back the menacing bass line, fortified tough jacking groove on this one as strong synth lines and strings embellish and complete the soundscape.Over to 'Ore' which cranks up the gears into an industrial techno slammer packed with abstract outer-planet sound design finished off with pounding overdriven drums programmed with military precision. On the flip side is a gem called 'Nocturnal'- this is the cut that first really caught our attention at 20/20 Vision, with it's merciless industrial dubstep kick drums and brutal precision. It's a simple, stripped back workout held in place beautifully by a discordant string - there's just no escaping this fierce ruling diva. Not for the faint-hearted but those who dare will be rewarded. Kim's final track 'Drifting' is the jewel in the crown that provides the light after the storm. It's a blissful, cosmic, jazz fused musical tapestry driven by break beats, while compassionate strings infused with Kim's own vocal harmonies and subtle piano motifs glisten and glide over the track adding soothing layers of harmonious quality. Drifting is the perfect close to a truly stunning debut EP.

Record is close to VG+.

New Kosh production on his own label Convergence. With more than a year between outputs, his releases are carefully considered. Demonstration of electro and tech house with lyrical voices through his futuristic lenses. Not to be missed.

For its 3. release Infoline showcases never heard compositions of Marco Repetto (former Grauzone). La Luna Sotto Il Ponte is a 2x12′ compilation and a never used alias of Marco Repetto. The compilation features tracks written between 1983 - 1989. Some years after his break up with Grauzone (1981), Marco went on a darker and more industrial path, which was a common route for experimental composers at that time. Expect a solid mixture of unreleased Industrial/EBM cuts. The bonus EP replaces La Luna Sotto Il Pontes grim and dark compositions for a much more utopian mind-set and movement in its heyday. It’s 1988/1989 - Acid House is everywhere.

Our first release is a combination of break and electro elements, an EP produced by Lagos, the owner of Ogoun Records. Our first release is a combination of break and electro elements, an EP produced by Lagos, the owner of Ogoun Records.

Next up on ECHOES OF GLORY are Bulgarian Electro/Punk outfit LES ANIMAUX SAUVAGES and a firm favourite with ANDREW WEATHERALL on his much missed “Music’s not for everyone” radio show.

Other ways to break my heart has four cuts in total. Along with the dark pulsating original there are some excellent remixes coming from RICHARD SEN and GRANT DELL and INIGO VONTIER. Sen’s mix is, in his own words “Kind of Arcade Funk meets Throbbing Gristle” while Dell smooths things out with a nice chuggy & dubby mix.

INIGO VONTIER takes things psychedelic and enters into a heady breakbeat vibe.

This autumn Ludwig A.F. aveils his first full-length album project. It is a very personal collection of ten pieces inspired by a special location near his home in the Taunus region of Germany. He recorded the songs as soon as he returned to his studio, inspired by the atmosphere of the place. He has been collating the pieces over the course of almost a decade. “Air“ is an atmospheric and ambiguous collection of music that at times is rhythm and sound design driven but mainly focuses on the home listener with its picturesque melodies and ambiances.

A mainstay on the label, Dresden-born / Berlin-based B-boy Worf is up there with Kiat as the most consistent and prolific artist in the collective since his ‘City Of Meth’ EPs in back in 2018. Following various appearances and cameos on the imprint since, his emotional, hip-hop influenced designs are back in the form of his most accomplished release so far.

Sonically, Marie Davidson & L’Œil Nu’s Renegade Breakdown LP is noticeably different to previous Davidson releases. This is a record which largely eschews the wave music, house and techno influences that drove albums like Working Class Woman. Instead, Davidson and her bandmates Pierre Guerineau (Essaie Pas) and Asaël R. Robitaille (Bataille Solaire) draw heavily from styles like dream-pop, 60s chansons, jazz-tinged balladry and the stately rock style of David Bowie’s The Next Day to create an alluring set of leftfield pop for the twilight hours.

Even on the tracks where Renegade Breakdown comes close to Working Class Woman territory - the steady electro-disco stomp of the opening title-track, for instance, or Gary Numan-esque ‘C’est parce que j’m’en fous’ - the sound here is more slow-burning than its frenetic predecessor. On these cuts the group soften up the chunky Big Beat stomp of an act like Daft Punk with reflexive keys and vocals that reach more for !!! territory.

The connecting thread between Renegade Breakdown and Davidson’s other work is her arch lyricism and appetite for subversion. Few other artists would break the fourth wall with a line like “Oh by the way, there are no money makers on this record”, something Davidson does on the title-track. Throughout the album Davidson & L’Œil Nu never allow the listener to get too comfortable, meaning that, while Renegade Breakdown may sound luxurious, there is a playfulness about it which always keeps you on your toes.

Together they have produced an album of sleek, lush pop tracks which are elevated by Davidson’s trademark wit and wry lyrical content.

Second release of Marius own label. After the success of the first one, He comes back with 3 powerful tracks for the club and one emotional break made with the upcoming talent of the Parisian scene Loryn.

Maroki comes through with a 6-track serotonin boost for our Lost Palms series. With its title meaning 'flower' in Dutch, Bloem EP sees Maroki depart somewhat from the colder acid and electro inflections of most of his previous releases, favouring instead a sunnier vibe and a focus on melody and texture. 'icbt1' embodies this sugar-coated departure perfectly. High-frequency metallic synth plucks form a dynamic melody, making up just one element of a dense soundscape which also compiles a reverb laden cymbal break, elated flutes and pitched-up vocal chops. The title track, together with 'Forgot You' strips things back a little, both driven by an understated deep house beat. 'Bloem' sees the EP at its most gentle with bubbly xylophonic tinkles that evoke the hypnotic allure of K-Lone's 'Cape Cira' LP; whilst 'Forgot You' gets its melody from the low ends. 'Forgot Me' is its moody older sibling and the most minimal track of them all, showcasing the darker underbelly to Maroki's sound with eerie underwater arpeggios and hollow percussion. This atmosphere sticks around for 'Why': an entrancing full-bodied breaks track sure to be closing DJ sets this Summer.

close to NM

Darkness enshrouded the city, replacing warm crepuscular air with a fresh nightly breeze that seemed to creep between the gaps in his clothes. Looking down, the tiny hairs on his arm had stood upright in lew of the falling temperature. It really was time to head home. His family were expecting him back. Though something eerie summoned him to stay, something in his gut said to walk, walk out in the night and face the silence that awaited him in those open fields on the outskirts of the city. The last light of sunset danced its way to darkness and he was alone, but this was what he wanted.

Ilker Soylu is a man of many guises. He returns under his Mastering Black alias, breaking the silence of a three-year hiatus with a broody and atmospheric four-track EP. This release rides electro BPMs for the title track ‘Obey’ and the ‘Obey’ rework on the B side, contrasted with A2 ‘Black Palms’ and B2 ‘Bit Of Your Love’ that chug with tension around a slower BPM.Varying on a darkened energy, crisp electro breaks articulate through bubbling arpeggios and ephemeral vocals. ‘Obey’ vocal drifts in and out of the title track, perhaps commanding, perhaps being commanded. This semi-neutral, ungendered voice speaks to the curiosity of the listener, with the potential for an unusual trip when heard in the stark strobe lighting of a rumbling nightclub. ‘Bit Of Your Love’ continues the vocal theme with a questioning tone, embroidered with rattling hi-hats and experimental sound design.The alternative version of ‘Obey’ on the B-side skips the vocal input for a dubbed-out and rhythmic interpretation of the title track. Metallic synths and a notable groove ride throughout the revisited version. A2 track ‘Black Palms’ opens with a calm downbeat house mood, with rich mid-range pads and drums that roll in a friendlier direction. Noisier synths break the calm with staccato flecks that lead us to an energising darkness once more. No stranger to eclectic sound production, Mastering Black provides a diverse and club-ready EP to mark his return to production.

As label and record shop founder of Zwart Goud, Ilker leans on a rich background in dance music and uses his years in the industry to produce this highly kinetic and mood-enriched release. Expect this to wobble and warp its way through sound systems for years to come.

Test pressing

Cover with bumped corner. Vinyl with scuffs and hairlines

Written for party rockin and battle use, Limited Network’s Max Watts follows up with Immortal Funk. Three timeless cuts that will move your mind, body and soul; a reclamation of funk. The A1 title track speaks for itself; Hi-Tek Funk for those who know! The A2 entitled “Karma”, is a soulful electro workout for all the jitters and breakers. On the B-side, “Network Not Found” provides a sinister growling synth line, deranged pads laced with African percussion and dark funked up beats in electro break fashion. Two hundred 12″ hand stamped. Dedicated to Marzette Watts. Made Somewhere In Detroit …

Tel Aviv super group Megaphonim are bringing their off-kilter energy to Feines Tier in form of their new „Namal Ashdod“ EP with four original tracks and hell of a Simple Symmetry remix. Even though they’re all quite unique on their own, what unites the tracks is the combination of raw beats and vocals with an oddly catchy pop approach to the writing of the music. Be it in the aptly titled „After of Disaster“ with its let-loose energy, the slow-rolling „Lo Titfos Oti“, which could have been picked from an Andrew Weatherall (rip) dj-set, or the title track with its break-beats and its unforeseeable left-turns, there’s always this playful and off-the-wall energy keeping the ball going and bouncing. And let’s not forget about the remix! Endlessly rising duo Simple Symmetry do what they have become known for very well here: Deliver an insanely groovy and relentless weapon of a track, guaranteed to blow the roof of every club, festival floor or after, however disastrous it might be. The EP also comes in form of a limited vinyl edition, so don’t sleep!

The consummation of jazz and UK underground music is Michael Diamond’s debut concept album ‘Third Culture’ - an LP that coalesces the very best of the jazz and electronic worlds into one seamless composition spanning ethereal jazz-breaks, introspective two-step, sax-driven power ambient and world-building, story-telling electronica. ‘Genesis’ begins in cinematic fashion; featuring close friend and saxophonist Alex Wilson, it’s a floating cut of jazz electronica that cries out to a seemingly endless darkness. Thundering explosions of bass-pressure disrupt the emotive soundscape, signalling what is to come. ‘Enigma’ flows into the frame as gently as waves frothing onto sand. A deep mysterious groove evolves, white clouds turn to grey as the sequence swells, grows and breathes. Intended to be as much an imaginative experience as it is a sonic one, ‘Lamentations’ symbolises the outpouring of emotion inspired by the confrontation of an enigma. It begins as a sparse soundscape, alone and isolated, before expanding into a full-frequency mutated jazz two-step, synth lines crying out in anger, sadness and confusion as logic does battle with emotion. Bubbles break the surface as we rise up gasping for air. ‘Submerged’ is designed as an underwater experience, immersing you deep in the ocean of contemplation. Meditative and pensive, its 6-bar phrasing inspires a dystopian trip through sunken kingdoms where the sea is made of tears. This is something new, something previously unexplored. Your eyes adjust to your surroundings as ‘Emergence’ announces its arrival. Fretting atmospherics swell and build towards an anxious climax, before calm is restored. You have now broken through. Having escaped the deep sea dive of Submerged, you now ride a wave of sorrowful bliss. Simultaneously joyous and melancholic; power ambient, two-step and jazz blend beautifully on a piece of music that wouldn’t sound out of place coming from an old Nintendo console. The chords give off a Pallet Town or Legend of Zelda vibe - warm, harmonic and arcade like - before we come to arguably the most club-ready track on the album. ‘Exodus’ maintains Michael’s distinctive chords on a driving cut of emotive garage which blossoms into a jazz-soaked fuck-step - a wicked blend of UK, screwface energy, jazzed harmonic voicings and expertly deployed dynamics. The final boss awaits. Featuring Alex Wilson once more, ‘Liberation’ represents salvation. There is a sense of freedom to the saxophone lines Wilson now delivers; the shackles of identity and culture having been loosened. Don’t get it twisted however, this is not a happy track. The journey we have just been on has taken its toll, and will continue to take its toll. It’s an oxymoronic blend of affliction and fulfilment, of freedom and what it takes to achieve freedom. An impassioned finale to the emotive world Michael has created. ‘Third Culture’ is accompanied with a literary short-story by close friend and academic Áine Kim Kennedy. Inspired by and created specifically for the album, It explores the internal battles concomitant with being third culture kids - a copy is included in each record sleeve. Director Oscar McNab pursues the same end via the medium of film. Through music, literature, film and art, ‘Third Culture’ delivers a message far greater than the sum of its parts....

The making of a maiden album can be a capricious process. One moment of outright musical flow paired with another period of sustained creative struggle are feats experienced by seasoned producers the world over. So when Miraclis was forced to hole away in his makeshift studio - in the midst of a global pandemic - the stage was set for something magical. Now it will see the light of day for the very first time.

Having released two singles on Secret Teachings to critical acclaim already this year, Chilean talent Miraclis will accomplish a milestone achievement in July with the release of his debut album: Origin Of Truth.

Difficult experiences were fundamental to the creation of such work, as were Miraclis’ inherent musical interests. He explains: “Origin Of Truth had its birth during the pandemic. I created it as a way of communicating to myself the sensations and feelings that were spinning around my head at the time. I've always been inspired by Bristol trip hop, as well as classical rock, and these genres definitely contributed to the making of these melancholic tracks. In a way I wanted to fuse all the musical influences that were part of my childhood, up until this point now, so this album really means a lot to me. It was my way of communicating, when there was a lack of social contact and communication itself was hard to come by.”

It's this meditative quality that initially drew Damian Lazarus to the project. “It’s a record that has its roots in electronic music, but it’s a very alternative, very deep, melancholic album. I find it both soothing and stirring at the same time, and that’s a quite interesting juxtaposition in that it feels edgy but delicious at the same time,” says Lazarus. “The fact that this was written in this place surrounded by the most incredible desert landscapes makes this a very important piece of work to me. It doesn’t sit in any particular genre, which is why it feels right for a Secret Teachings release. It hints at so many genres that I as a DJ am quite into, and it feels like a first as it’s unique and unclassifiable. That mystical, esoteric, edgy feel makes this a perfect release for the label.”

Sonnet opens proceedings, with ghostly vocals residing next to raw instrumental elements throughout. Miraclis’ signature guitar riffs soon converge on saddened keys, paving the way for Scienter. It takes the form of an instrument-based, electronic-inspired cut, building slowly before reaching a crescendo midway through via an enrapturing acoustic solo.

Floating Child comes next, brimming with a darker intensity courtesy of broody synth pulses and rhythmic hi-hats, as Shiver arrives next. There’s a rock-leaning sensibility to the piece that gives way to earnest lyrical offerings, opening swiftly into the breakbeat-esque world of Perceptions. Hard-hitting drums act as the focal point, with electric chords adding depth and intrigue, whilst Bright continues in a similarly heartfelt vein.

Introspective pads leave us feeling pensive, ahead of Interstellar taking us on a celestial journey through warped bass tones. Acting as the LP’s penultimate number, it’s a four-and-a-half minute showcase of guitar-based musical goodness and one that perfectly sets the stage for Trapped, a closing saga of suitably emotive proportions.

Miraclis earned his stripes as a DJ under the name Max Clementi in his native Chile, as well as Spain after a stint at the Barcelona SAE Institute. Playing and writing music since his parents gave him his first guitar at age twelve, he found himself inspired by synth wave, electronic pop, trip hop, and psychedelic rock of the ‘80s and ‘90s, drenching himself in music by the likes of Massive Attack, Tricky, Depeche Mode, and Nine Inch Nails. However, it wasn’t until he had to move back to Pucón to take care of his father during the pandemic that he began working on what would become Origin Of Truth.

Serendipity seems to play a large part in Crosstown Rebels’ new label Secret Teachings. Just look at the story of how Damian met Miraclis in the first place. It involved a chance midnight encounter in Pucón, Chile at a woodland campfire after the DJ was locked out of his hotel room. This meeting of minds was the start of a remarkable friendship, where Miraclis invited Lazarus to stay at his house and break bread with his family. The two kept in touch, exchanging music and ideas as a result.

Serendipity seems to play a large part in Crosstown Rebels’ new label Secret Teachings. The first release on the label, Music Inspired By The Film Beijing Spring, came about after producer, DJ, and label founder Damian Lazarus met director Andy Cohen in a nightclub in Geneva. The story of how Lazarus met Miraclis is even more extraordinary – a chance midnight encounter in Pucón, Chile, at a woodland campfire after Damian was locked out of his hotel room. This meeting of minds was the start of a remarkable friendship. Miraclis invited the DJ to stay at his house and break bread with his family, and the two kept in touch, exchanging music and ideas.

Opening the proceedings is the heavy, emotive single Trapped. It’s joined by some very special interpretations from Audion aka Matthew Dear. Matthew picks up the mandate with aplomb, exposing Miraclis to the dancefloor, synapse frying, and tweaking Max’s vocal in the process. These are proper remixes. A short film and album follow on Secret Teachings in July.

Miraclis earned his stripes as a DJ under the name Max Clementi in his native Chile as well as Spain after a stint at the Barcelona SAE Institute. Playing and writing music since his parents gave him his first guitar at age twelve, he found himself inspired by synth wave, electronic pop, trip hop, and psychedelic rock of the ‘80s and ‘90s, drenching himself in music by the likes of Massive Attack, Tricky, Depeche Mode, and Nine Inch Nails. However, it wasn’t until he had to move back to Pucón to take care of his father during the pandemic that he began working on what would become Origin of Truth in earnest.

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.

Hypnotic melodic driving Electro in the vein of Anthony Rother and Kraftwerk!

Polish-Silesian producer Karol Gwózdz aka Nail joins the German label Dominance Electricity for a mystic 'Revelation'.

The title track is an epic ten-minute Electro trip with biblical vocoderized lyrics in Polish language, driving broken beats and hypnotic melody loops.

Followed by the slightly more energetic '1987', the release also features two ambient bonus pieces that highlight the beautiful synth work of the two songs.

Masa 003 is Natural Language’s first solo edited work. This young and creative producer from Andalusia touches the soul with 6 passionate and energetic journeys in which Andy’s different emotional flows over the past year are portrayed through “melancho-aquatic” landscapes and electro-break vibrations.

Limited Edition.
Hairline on side B.

Nite Fleit steers a course through electro, breaks, techno and acid to deliver a debut LP made up of two distinct halves, exploring contrasting emotional states and new sonic territories.

Shifting between styles, emotions and eras with ease and hiding surprises around every corner, Nite Fleit owes her rapid rise as a DJ and producer to an ability to keep dancers perpetually on their toes. Coming up through Sydney’s underground club scene, the Australia-born, London-based artist started producing as recently as 2016, making her production debut for Steel City Dance Discs in 2018. Since then she has appeared on labels across the globe including Return to Disorder, Planet Euphorique, Unknown To The Unknown, International Chrome, Acid Avengers and her own imprint, Atomic Alert.

‘Day Fleit / Nite Fleit’ is an LP with no front or back cover - depending on the listener’s intended destination the album’s two discs can be listened to in either order. ‘Overload’ wastes little time in setting the tone for ‘Day Fleit’. Densely layered, soaring arpeggiated acid lines twist and dance around Nite Fleit’s spoken lyrics, inspired by Delia Derbyshire and Barry Bermange’s iconic 1964 ‘The Dreams’ sound collage. On ‘Like I Used To Be’ warm, dreamy chords are decorated with sparkling synth melodies and vocals from Nite Fleit’s friend and fellow producer Mesmé. From the triumphant EBM textures of ‘The Flower Dance’, which features a theatric monologue by Partiboi69 reciting an Alan Watts speech, to the video-game pop melodies of ‘Dark End of the Street’ and ‘Morning Song’, on ‘Day Fleit’ Nite Fleit infuses her sound with a new buoyance and musicality.

On the flip, those rich colourful harmonies make way for the imposing, mechanical rave energy on punishing percussive techno and electro cuts like ‘Double Digits’ and ‘Nah’. Nite Fleit’s graceful acid lines turn feverish and frenzied on ‘Airs & Graces’ and ‘Paranoid Energy’ - a pair of break-heavy, mutant club tracks fine-tuned for dark and manic basement raves. ‘Bold Poke’ provides a moment of brooding, melodic respite, before ‘Serious Effect’ a cinematic closing electro workout. Across these 12-tracks, taken from a vast pool of demos sketched out over the last two years, Nite Fleit provides a sonic snapshot of swinging emotions and dancefloor yearnings, delivered with uncompromising energy, melody and contrast.

Afterhours. latest release, “Dimensions EP“, is the result of the successful collaboration between Optide and Adar Cohen, showcasing their talents in seamlessly blending Electro, Break Beat, and Minimal genres. In the package, two hefty remixes by Christopher Ledger. Catering to those with a soft spot for Electro and Breakbeat, A-side’s title track ‘Dimension’ and Christopher Ledger’s Remix are all about driving basslines, robotic percussions and captivating soundscapes. Flip-side’s ‘Hypnagogic’ shifts gears to the Break & Minimal House realm where detailed groves, deep tones and swing are key. Ledger’s remix further develops the deepness of the original tune and expands it over a 4by4 groove.