Review: There's lots to get your teeth stuck into on this new and blistering collection of electro from Adepta Editions. And don't let the title fool you - it's not all accessible summer festival fare, in fact none of it is. It is all head down and serious tackle. 7053M4R14's '4 N3W HUM4N' is a driving, dark, visceral sound with raw breakbeats powering through the cosmos. Rec_Overflow offers a moment to catch your breath with some slower, dubby rhythms on 'Pocket Dial' and Pauk explores twitchy future synths capes and post-human transmissions on 'Shiawasena Fukushu'. Promising/Youngster shuts down with a sense of optimism and hope with the airy melodies and slithering electro drum patterns of 'Arbey.'
Review: ViGis opening salvo for 2025 brings together four artists from four continents who all blend their own diverse cultural roots and influences into a superb collection of cuts for the club. This is a 12" that offers a refreshing take on familiar sounds and delivers subtle yet punchy variations in style and rhythm. Adema keeps it nice and clean and slick on the deep, bubbly tech of 'Jm Glavio' while Red Pig Flower's 'Stardust' is a zoned-out roller. Artur Nikolaev's 'New Edition' is a deft minimal soundscape with warped lines and bubbles dub undercurrents. Cladu shuts down with 'No Name' which is a more propulsive cut.
Review: Hyaku marks the 100th vinyl release for Samurai Music, so shout out to the crew for staying dedicated to the format. It also celebrates nearly 17 years of dedication to quality music and timeless design and, for this milestone, the label has assembled producers who epitomise the current Samurai sound. Each track offers a unique take on that from the crunchy breakbeats of ACS to the relentless energy of Sam KDC's 'Mutilate.' Together, these contributions form a diverse collection that highlights the artistry and innovation of this talented crew while also reflecting the journey Samurai has been on for all these years. Here's to many more.
Review: This crucial platter features two gems in 'Windrush Scandal' and 'Give A Little Love' which are fine tunes from Lizzi Bee and Ranking Ann, who makes a great return and lays down some superb vocals that will get you thinking as well as skanking, and what's more it all comes on a flame red vinyl 12". The track offers a perfect blend of reggae and dancehall influences, featuring catchy melodies, uplifting lyrics and a smooth rhythm that will have you swaying along and lost in the cavernous bass depths. Sax versions and dubs are all included to make this the complete package.
Santonio Echols - "Piano In The Light" (Emanuell Echols mix)
Brian Kage - "This Saturday Night"
Ryan Sadorus - "Down Below"
Review: Upstairs Asylum is kicking off the year in some style with a couple of killer new EPs. This one is the first in what is presumably a new series to showcase the talents of the Motor City. Mike Clark & Marcus Harris get things underway with 'Hey' which has a subtly uplifting feel thanks to the bright, sustained chords and cuddly drums. Santonio Echols's 'Piano In The Light' (DJ Emanuell Echols mix) is laidback, playful deep house with magical chord work and Brian Kage brings his classy depths to the smooth grooves of 'This Saturday Night.' Ryan Sadorus brings things to a close with the smoky 'Down Below.'
Review: Rambadu's self-titled label is young but already onto a good thing with a distinctly deep brand of techno. This time out the boss is back once more but in cahoots with Italian techno legend Claudio PRC. They cook up a trio of mind melters starting with 'Sai.' Warped lines menacingly roam about the stereo field over sparse kicks and deep abs. 'Matika' is just as paired back and atmospheric in a deep, dark way with slowly churning drums taking you deeper down the rabbit hole. 'Aqua' is a meatless blend of distant groans and wispy pads that keeps you in suspense.
Review: Parisian label Cracki Records has once again collaborated with Hong Kong's Fauve Records, which is headed up by producer and DJ Romain FX, for another fine edition of the Make Italo Disco Great Again series. This is volume four and it comes after artists like COEO, Arash & Quasar and Mangabey made their amir in the past. This new one continues to showcase global talent and has artists from Ireland, Korea, Mexico, Germany and beyond each sharing their unique take on Italo disco. This volume includes dazzlers by Mystery Affair, Shubostar, Sara Miller, COLE, Maltitz and Romain FX who all impress.
Joseph Cotton & Earl Heptones - "Misty Morning" (4:00)
Room In The Sky All Stars - "Smoking Horn" (feat Eddie "Tan Tan" Thornton) (4:21)
Review: The latest from the Joe Gibbs label features a powerful roots rockers reinterpretation of The Sensations' classic rocksteady tune 'Everyday Is Like a Holiday.' The new version from Ruddy Thomas brings a different kind of energy while honouring the soulful essence of the original. It's packed with plenty of mad mixing desk effects and endless echo while warm vocals and deep basslines lock in a steady, hypnotic rhythm. On the B-side, Joe Gibbs & The Professionals deliver 'Holiday Style' which has happy horns and melodies that sparkle in the hot summer sun. Real roots authenticity and dub mastery make this another vital 7".
Review: The brilliant Room In The Sky All Stars presents a heavyweight roots reggae slab here with some serious steppers from guests Joseph Cotton, Laylah Arruda, Ashanti Selah and Rivah Jordan. This essential 12" includes two new tracks, each with four mixes that take the original into all new sonic realms. Rico from the renowned OBF Sound System and Dubquake Records does a fine job with his versions which spin out 'ever bless' into worlds of reverb and lyrical worship. 'Mother Nature' is another impassioned sound with swirling Latin vocals and florid melodies.
Review: After a fine collaborative outing on Semantica last year, Napoli tastemakers Retina.it and Domenico Crisci combine their skills once more for the tenth release from Summa Cum Laude. 'A Man With A Suitcase' opens up with a mix of textural synth details and long-form linear techno drums that all work you into a lather. 'Dead End Street' ups the pace and gets more manic with a hurried rhythm and urgent synth flashes peeling off the drums and 'Cross Road' then gets more weird with warped synth circles bringing tension and menace. 'Nocturnal Noise' closes out with reverberating synth leads and wispy curlicues bringing some rave mentality to the rooted beats.
Review: Cyclic and Random combine their creative forces on what is a deeply atmospheric new EP of club-ready techno for Notta. 'I Am Happy, As Am I' gets underway with celestial synths up top and more rugged rhythms down low while the mid-section is defined by sustained drones.'Speak Dirty' sinks it grainy, smoky dub techno territory and if it rolled for days you wouldn't mind such is its depth. 'DddSP' keeps things airy with more optimistic chords floating over another set of grainy dub drums with tons of reverb. A Tm Shuffle dub shuts down with a more upright groove that hints at something playful is to come.
Review: Notta's fifth deep dive in moody techno underworlds is a coming together of Cyclic and Random and they both marvel in the details. 'I Am Happy, As I Am' is super cavernous but has rays of synth light and distant microbials glowing bright to keep you attention. 'Speak Dirty' is a more traditional dub in the Berlin style and 'DddSP' then get all liquid and watery as it ripples out to infinity all around you. 'DddSP' (Tm Shuffle dub) hits heavy and rocks back and forth on its heels to mind-melting effect.
Review: Eduardo de La Calle has always excelled at crafting economical yet impactful techno. It is often long and settled in its groove, dubbed out to the max and sprinkled with grainy chords. That simple MO has kept him at the forefront for years and here he hooks up with Reeko to serve up four more tracks of his distinctive techno gold to get 2025 underway on a fine footing. 'Track 1' is a real pressure builder with waves of synth and icy hi-hats washing over you, 'Track 2' then pulls back into murky minimalism and 'Track 3' brings the brain-melting bells. All that leaves is t cast you off into the deepest corners of the cosmos with 'Track 4' full of celestial wonderment.
Dead Man's Chest - "Living Real" (Artificial Red remix) (5:41)
L Own X Response - "Rumination Cycles" (7:59)
Eusebeia - "Affinity" (5:44)
Esc - "Hot Hands" (7:11)
Review: Dead Man's Chest is about to unleash all kinds of breakbeat mayhem with the third volume of Western Lore's Blunted Breaks series and here's a little taster of the full flavour experience to expect. Artificial Red kicks off with a hazy-but-heavy remix of DMC's 'Living Real' before L Own & Response's 'Rumination Cycles' enshrouds us with rasping tendrils of acid and loose live drum breaks. Flip for two more breath-taking moments in (blunted) breakcraft as Eusebeia captures that early Good Looking magic on 'Affinity' and ESC closes the EP with the powerful, cobweb blast celebration of hardcore's influence on 'Hot Hands'. Get blunted!
Review: Hard techno is very much back in vogue right now, all across Europe and beyond. Sacred Court taps into that demand with various artists EP that is edgy, raw and effective. It is Dexphase that kicks off with 'Stay True To Yourself' layering up wooden hits, icy hi hats and slamming drums. KOZLOV's 'Darkness' has real dystopian menace to it with the wiry pads that bring unsettling energy to the distorted basslines and hammering drums. Raxeller's 'Corrupted' is hyperderiven with kicks stacked up almost on top of each other as moody trance pads light up the backdrop. Tham's 'Never The Right Time' is a fourth and final highly destructive weapon to keep the rave kids marching.
Review: House Cookin''s series House Cookin' Wax serves up a sixth delicious collection of trad house sounds here, all from a range of fresh names. DJ Merci's 'Just A Groove' is perfect 90s revivalism with golden, soft focus chords and nice woody beats and hits. Bruno Bar's 'A House Of Music' layers in some pensive spoken words to a nice chord-driven groove that is deep but dynamic. Pat Lezizmo continues on this same deliciously deep tip with more analogue excellence on 'Not In A Hurry', all with a nice dub underbelly, then Reagan Mian's 'Caracole' closes out with a little more bump and grind
Review: DJ Plead & rRoxymore make for a fascinating duo and take aim squarely at the floor on this new outing, Read Round City, for Smalltown Supersound. Opener 'Celestial' is a loose-limbed rhythmic jumble with hand claps, trippy xylophone patterns and deep bass that lulls you into a trance while 'Read Wrong' is a more reggaeton-inspired sound with snappy snares and warped synth sounds. It's gluey and gloopy and subtly colourful. 'Round Echoes' is a third and final cross blend of techno, dub and house that picks up the pace and heads off into the cosmos but retains an organic feel thanks to the marvellous wet hand claps.
Review: 'Tribute To The Flowers' is one of those tunes that is often considered to be a part of the holy grail cannon. It's loved up and irresistibly catchy and now it gets a sublime new house make over with Rocky Washington on lead vocal. It is another great drop on the Sonic Wax In Da House label and comes from the great pair of Matt Early and Lee Jefferies on green marbled wax. The For Real mix is all soulful and airy grooves, there is an instrumental mix and also a more bumping club mix version.
Review: Inhale Exhale will have you doing just that at a fair pace once you've dropped the needle on their latest record. It's a sweet trip into the depths of house and disco with seasoned artist Eddie C igniting the dance floor with a disco-infused anthem sure to set your hips swaying. Tilman crafts a delectable nu-groove track evoking the essence of the 90s with 'Forevermore' and then debuting on vinyl, Julius Renner embarks on a soulful journey to the heart of the dancefloor. Fresh talent Toomy Disco offers a funky, introspective bomb, Ron Brown serves up a deep, Latin-infused organ piece brimming with melancholy and optimism. Last of all, Meeshoo delivers a soul-stirring fusion of strings and disco brilliance.
Review: A new school roots tune from Bruges, Belgium that draws on a rich heritage of reggae and dub and adds some fresh modern twists. The vocalist Emma delivers a nice and airy, breezy vocal that floats up top over the rumbling rhythm and fine production by Dub Traveller. It's got plenty of natty chords, organic percussive textures and neat melodies and on the flipside, Dub Traveller & Roots Explosion hook up for 'Free Dub' which is a cavernous dub with lots of room for you to get lost in as you marvel at the studio desk magic unfolding around you.
Review: Caleto Records's eighth outing takes the form of this various artists compilation featuring exclusively Polish producers. The Etat Cru duo of Olszewski and Pawlescu kick off with the wire and sinewy synths and tech house pomp of 'Jasmina' then Jerry M offers two cuts. 'Gutek' is a nice spaced-out tech cruiser with flashy astral pads and 'Gondin' rides on well-designed breakbeats with an old-school bassline. Robsessive's 'Look After You' is a deeper, dubber, grittier cut for late-night vibes and SIM ON's 'Brudas' is all glitchy and dystopian urban landscaping. Poland sure has plenty of talent based on this EP.
Review: Spanish label Fanzine keeps its quality output coming with this 19th EP, and it takes the form of a various artists' EP and the fourth instalment of the Xuntanza series. The Exaltics open up with some moody and stripped-back downtempo electro on 'The End' and Robot City then picks up the energy with the snappy rhythms of 'TerrorVision.' Elektrotechnik's 'Autopilot' is a nice bumping, tightly programmed drum workout with sci-fi effects and rising arps, then Acidulant brings some manic 303 action and Roi shuts down with more industrial electro tension.
Review: It's ten up for the FrescoEdits Iabel with this latest entry into their esteemed series and as always there are plenty of irresistible beats on offer. The in-house FrescoEdits add their touch to the glorious, string-laced and funky disco of 'Little Love' and bring bumping beats and funky guitar riffs to 'Philadelphia'. Rogue D's 'Pensi A Me' is a super smooth heart melter for dancing in the open air as the sun begins to fade, while Kings Of Groove's 'You Got The Funk' is a soulful, slapping house cut with cosmic synth energy and hooky vocals that will always bring the good times.
Review: Belgian-born producer Gratts and pioneering Chicago vocalist Robert Owens first collaborated on 'Brighter Future' back in 2021 after meeting in the streets of Kreuzberg years before. The pair now join forces again for follow up 'Today', a powerful and emotive, 90s inspired deep house cut with layered backings and Owens' lilting affirmations soaring above. The extended club version takes you straight to house music's ecstatic heydays, while the twelve also includes an acapella tool for those singalong moments. On the flip, Mark Hand's slower, soulful rendition takes things into sideroom territory. Finally, 'Mount Olympus', home to the Greek deities, fuses a rattling drum machine, arpeggiated synth lines and a potent analogue bassline - with added bonus beats to bang the box and get weird!
Review: Personality Disorder Music is only early in its adventures in the label world but is already turning some heads. The fourth outing from the crew brings together some accomplished underground mainstays for four tracks of twisted tech. There is an edgy vibe to the opener 'Deception' with its throwback breakbeats powering along warped bass, and spoken word snippets adding a sultry twist. 'What Are We Doing' is a stringy and skeletal minimal groove peppered with twangs and hits, sine waves and toms. The B-side melon twisters are just as good with 'Chaos' (feat Mari Kvien Brunvoll) in particular having a nice occult cosmic edge.
Review: Yay Recordings closes out another solid 12 months with a various artists' EP that showcases right where the label is at. Heavy Mental kicks off with 'Dabro', a colourful and loopy house jaunt for sunny days. Twowi's 'Metaverse' takes off to the cosmos on lithe electro rhythms with ice-cold beats and widescreen pads. Parchi Pubblici & Lucretio's 'Aladdin Sane' brings some wonky deep tech vibes with of-balance drums and muffled spoken words and Rinaldo Makaj closes down with a fresh party sound perfect for cosy floors. There's plenty of variety here, which makes this a great addition to your bag.
Roots Defender Riddim Section - "No Justice Dub" (4:18)
Kojo Neatness - "Bun Dem Down" (4:02)
Roots Defender Riddim Section - "Dub Dem Down" (4:19)
Review: Jah Mason and Kojo Neatness bring an authentic island flavour to this solid 4/4 roots rhythm that was crafted by the Roots Defender Riddim Section. The track features soulful horn arrangements as well as mesmerising guitars and keys by Black Steele and Maestro Inyaki. Originally recorded as a full band piece in Brixton over a decade ago, it underwent multiple stages to perfect its organic vibe for sound system heads. The multitrack was then taken to Ital Soup studio in South London where Petah Sunday served up a brilliant analogue mix while also adding some mind-blowing dubs all of which have already made their mark.
Review: The legendary 'Solaris' is a standout tune from Kareem's 1997 release CICLOP on Berlin-based label Zhark. Originally, CICLOP combined diverse styles including industrial hip-hop, cinematic ambience and dub techno and created a unique, gritty soundscape as a result. Solaris stood out for its raw, brutally minimalist approach and now these new remixes from cult favs Orphx, Rrose, SHXCXCHCXSH and Kareem breathe new life into them with lots of lo-fi synth designs, muggy atmospheres, dense, foggy drones and plenty of rolling and dubbed out rhythms.
Review: This is one of a pair of new slabs of wax from Amsterdam's Sound System and label of the same name, King Shiloh. It features an array of modern dub and reggae talents and first up, Lavvosti & Black Omolo offer the modern sheen of 'Red Gold Green'. Kare's 'Better Days' rides the same rhythm but with more stylised and soulful vocal turns that empower with every bar. Jah Works dubs things out with a ton of effects and Tiger Simeon & Brada Jahziel layer in storytelling bars. Brasspect brings a fresh horn-led sound that is romantic and hypnotic and Roots Mechanic pairs things right back to an 80s sounding Jamaica dub vibe.
Review: Henry 'Junjo' Lawes produced a double-headed twin spin on the iconic Eventide Fire riddim for this one. It is arguably that which helped Barrington's 'Crucifixion' soar to the top of the UK reggae charts in 1980 when it was released. It is one of his most iconic vocal performances, which is saying something given how much music the man has worked on. On the flip side of this new 7", Ranking Joe delivers 'River Jordan' with full force, riding the rhythm with impeccable skill. These jams were recorded with the one and only Roots Radics at Channel One and King Tubby's, so very much capture the essence of reggae at its peak with some of its key players all involved.
Lex, Dennis Liber, Rosa - "Una Sera D'Estate" (feat Max Giovara) (7:02)
Lex, Dennis Liber - "End Of The Line" (5:56)
Dennis Liber - "Playa Eden" (feat Sariela Camargo) (8:32)
Dennis Liber - "Hidden Island" (feat Ricardo Benitez) (4:17)
Review: Rocksteady Disco welcomes Dennis Liber & Lex for a standout debut here. Their four-tracker captures the magic of musical nights spent down in Mexican hotspot Tulum with organic and airy grooves aplenty. 'Una Sera D'Estate' (feat Max Giovara) exodus late-night warmth and loved-up vibes with its melodic bassline and disco-tinged house drums. 'End Of The Line' is more lively but is no less direct with its big drums and pointed bass phrasings. Liber then goes solo for the dreamy, Italo-tinged yet tropical 'Playa Eden' and wonderfully escapist closer 'Hidden Island' complete with Balearic beats and the sound of singing dolphins.
This Thing (feat Robert Owens - Mr Fingers Tribute mix) (5:00)
This Thing (feat Robert Owens - Chez Morning After mix) (6:32)
This Thing (feat Robert Owens - LL Smoov mix) (4:26)
Review: Some real house legends come together on this This Thing EP by Lukas Lyrestam & Simoncino, with the added bonus of the iconic Robert Owens bringing his signature smoky vocals. This package highlights the exceptional talents of Lyrestam and Italian Simoncino, while remixes by house legends Mr. Fingers and Chez Damier elevate the project even further. The original track is full of Owens' soulful vocals and sets the stage for a timeless house sound that is steeped in class and always going to make a mark.
Review: The Berlin-based 432HERTZ crew kicks on here with a new various artists 12" packed with electro heat. Rinaldo Makaj gets things underway with the serene grooves of 'Computational Universe', which has some of the nicest snares we've heard in some time. Rickie's 'Mesosphere' is a nice off balance sound with thumping kicks and melodic bass, then it's time to get sleazy and more than a little ghetto with the raw Electric City jam 'Escape From Reality.' Pumio Space brings a little colour and playfulness to closer 'Mario's Juice'.
Mariah & The Machine - "All I Want For Xmas Is A Dog"
Run Winston - "Wonderful Christmas In Hollis"
Review: Get ready for the ultimate holiday mash-up here as this fun 7" brings together two festive anthems that will light up your turntables, and the party. First, Mariah and her Machine deliver a cheeky twist on 'All I Want for Christmas is a Dog' by reminding us that owning a canine is a lifelong commitment. On the flip side, Winston puts a fresh spin on Run-D.M.C.'s 'Christmas in Hollis' by giving it a vibrant Queens New York makeover. With ill reindeers and Jam Master Sleigh, this record is sure to deck the halls and add some serious holiday cheer to your collection.
Review: Flexi celebrated 40 years of energising dancefloors and championing underground music back in 2024. What began as a haven for vinyl lovers and evolved into a cultural force dedicated to high-quality sound. To mark the milestone, Flexi's indie off-shoot Flexi Cuts assembled this limited-edition compilation across several 12". Minimono opens this one with some super smooth deep house on 'Before Morning' and Delphi then switches it up with more twitchy, synth-laced and tense house while DJ Rou's 'Elastic Body' brings acid charm to steely mid-tempo beats. Relative's 'The Piece' shuts down with a darker heart and prying synths.
Jamma D - "Don't Wanna Leave The Couch Today" (4:20)
Roche - "House Shuffle Boogie" (6:13)
Darone Sassounian - "Arms" (6:18)
Review: This deep, jazzy and lo-fi house 12" is perfect for escaping at this time of year as the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and the general weight of modern life can get all too much. It comes from an array of standout producers from around the world including Darone Sassounian, Jamma D and Jarren from Los Angeles, Roche from Portland and Morris Mobley from Nancy, France. Between them, they offer the cuddly, cloudy depths of 'Drippin'' (Sauce dub), humid and jazzy heat of the sumptuous 'Don't Wanna Leave The Couch Today', playful rhythms of 'House Shuffle Boogie' and more besides.
Review: Worldwide Heavy Industries Vol.1 is the latest wax drop from Flux Musical Art and Brutal Forms and it makes for an immersive trip deep into industrial soundscapes and futuristic themes. Dominik Muller's intricate 'Too Many Posers' soon sucks you in followed by Ryuji Takeuchi's dynamic 'In Your Mind' with its unusual rhythmic innovation. On the B-side, 6SISS and Hypnoskull's intense 'Losss' gets super raw with an industrial edge, while Low Order's 'Taste My Venom' explores darker experimental territory. Skumring's atmospheric 'Corpse-Ridden' closes the album with a mood as dark as you would expect given the title.
Odopt - "11000 Versions Of A Simple Track" (Berlin mix) (5:37)
Remotif - "HAJKSD15" (6:39)
N Tropic - "One Night Stand" (Full Circle & Kris Baha remix) (7:45)
53X - "Simulaatio" (5:38)
Review: Avidya is back with a third EP to build on the head-turning success of the first two and it is another trip to the outer edges of the dancefloor. Odopt from Born Free and 777 Recordings kicks off with a snappy cut that is deceptively simple but devastatingly effective with its gurgling and acidic bass. Remotif is a fast-rising talent who impresses with the heavy techno sludge of 'HAJKSD15' and Full Circle aka Alexis Le Tan and Joakim link with Kris Baha to offer a remix that is all twitchy electrons, busted drum loops and fizzing pads before 53X's 'Simulaatio' is another brilliantly loose jumbled of wiry electronics, sci-fi effects and techno chug for a fantastic closing beatdown.
Review: SIKU's various artists offerings always result in a nice and varied sound across two sides of vinyl and the sixth such drop is another one worth of attention for techno heads. Onoffon opens with 'Matter What' which rides on raw drums with slapping hits and stark synths, while Sebastian's 'Dreams Metaphors' has a ghoulish energy and dark, twisted synth menace. Rufo brings some cosmic wonder and bleeping melodic sequences to 'Mr Wonderful' and Brian Topham's 'Expressive Dimension' is a straight up tool with burrowing leads.
Review: It's time to strap in for another episode of Anaoh Invites, which is always a great way to lose your mind to some tripped out techno. Gaetano Parisio is the first one to boggle the brain with 'Human Ratio' layering up twisted synths and drums. Dig It's 'When I Get Home' is another mad melange of smeared and stretched synths, stabs and thunderous kicks that tugs you in many different directions at once. Raffaele Attanasio kees it straight up and funky with 'Ulisse' and Fixon taps into high speed dub and percussive rawness on 'Clinging To The Roots.'
Prince Jamo - "Is There Anybody Out There?" (4:03)
Rootz Lions - "Is There Anybody Dubbing Out There?" (3:59)
Review: Featuring the much-loved Prince Jamo's distinctive vocals and introspective lyrics over Rootz Lions' rich, dub-heavy instrumentals, 'Is There Anybody Out There?' calls you to reflect on humanity's shared struggles and the search for truth. It does so in great style with powerful basslines, echoing brass and rhythmic grooves that capture the essence of classic roots reggae while bringing a fresh, conscious vibe that resonates today. Ideal for fans of meditative, message-driven reggae music, this one by Prince Jamo and Rootz Lions is a deep, roots-reggae collaboration that explores themes of connection, searching, and spirituality.
Everyone Has Got To Go (Super Bionic version!) (4:22)
Review: 'Everyone Has Got to Go' is a powerful 1976 roots stepper by Jamaican-Canadian singer Prince Robinson aka R. Man Prince. Born in Rockfort, Kingston, Robinson auditioned at Studio One in his teens but didn't record until a decade later. After moving to New York and Canada, he returned to Kingston in 1976 to record two iconic roots anthems at Joe Gibbs studio: this one and the rare 'Funny Dream.' Joined by The Soul Foundation and top session musicians like Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, the track's mix by Ernest Hookim and Barnabas features a haunting dub version.
Review: Milo Raad is back on Rotterdam's finest, Mord Records, with a fine follow-up to his last outing, the 'Blood Pressure' EP. This one opens at pace with 'Bushido' and its rushes of synth and hi hats, which sweep you off your feet in an instant. 'Flash Point' has a more stripped-back sound with a hypnotic meld of drums and kicks that makes for perfect 5am escapism. The deep techno of 'Yawara' is run through with eerie, searching synths that describe a desolate urban scene and 'Detour' is a final assault on both head and heel with its unrelenting drum pressure.
Review: Acid jazz star Rad has worked on tracks featuring top-tier talent including the Tower of Power Horns, David Garibaldi, Roger Troutman, Ray Obiedo, Bobby Vega and Michael Spiro. Originating from the San Francisco Bay Area, which is of course home to musical legends like Herbie Hancock, Tower of Power, and Sly & The Family Stone, she now delivers on her Oakland funk roots with a pair of killer cuts on this new 7". Her second album, Gotta Be from 1994 captured funk's essence with sharp breaks, hooky melodies, and her captivating voice and these newly remastered songs, from it ensure their timeless groove remains ever-present.
Review: Jesse Rae's back catalogue is rather an epic one and now we're treated to some key tracks from it with this new and limited 12" via Pace Yourself. The title cut opens up with some coy, playful funk that is sure to win over any newcomers. 'Virtual U' then flip the script with a lo-fi and downbeat sound, scratchy melodies and distant prog guitar licks all topped with some smoked word and soulful musings. 'Rusha is another esoteric sound that's a bit like George Clinton on acid doing house music. 'Switch Tae U' is an 80s throwback jam with swaggering Soul II Soul-style grooves and carefree vocals.
Review: Raji Rags brings his unique brand of melodically infused breakbeat to new label OTIH. His Congratulations EP makes its debut release and after the amusingly titled 'Obligatory Ambient Intro' comes the exotic synth charm of 'Kiran's Bike' and kinetic drum workout that is 'Making Love To A Ghost.' 'Bullet Train' (feat Sonia Calico) is more dark and dirty with busy synths panning about the mix and last of all is 'Enchante', which merges celestial synths with vulnerable string sounds. It all adds up to a unique EP.
Love Is The Message (feat Nipsey Hussle, Planet Asia, Louis King & Snoop Dogg) (5:04)
Review: Hip-hop icon Rakim is son to return with a new album G.O.D.'S NETWORK (REB7RTH), but before that come some teaser singles and this one of them. 'Be Ill' perfectly sets the tone with Rakim's raw rhymes and head-nodding production complemented by standout features from Kurupt and Masta Killa. On 'Love Is The Message', the American great slows it down with soulful vibes and enlists the late Nipsey Hussle plus Planet Asia, Snoop Dogg and more for a heartfelt anthem. This single and the ensuing LP celebrates Rakim's enduring hunger as an emcee and producer and proves that many years after he made his mark, he still has the skills to pay the bills.
Review: Snippets Music is an emerging Russian label doing more and more to carve out its own niche in the world of trance, prog and Goa sounds. Rambal Cochet kicks off this one with some big-ass beats, tribal synth work and celestial chords to expand the mind. Dylan Forbes remixes into a more deep, spiritual prog-trance sound and 'Sasha The Explorer' then brings undulating, rubbery bass and modulated synth sounds that call to mind early era Sasha and Digweed work. 'Trancemental' shuts down with a darker sound that has all manner of synths spraying about the mix over phased bassline action.
Review: Kulture Galerie is back with more wax and the third time proves a charm here with Doc Sleep, Rambal Cochet, The Jaffa Kid, Mesmerist, Jack Bags and Undsidedly all coming correct under the stewardship of label head Filippo MSM of Metropolitan Soul Museum. Cochet kicks off with some trance-infused prog techno, Doc Sleep offers jacked-up and analogue house, there is lithe cosmic tech from The Jaffa Kid and twisted machine sounds from Jack Bags, while Undsidedly's dreamy electro and The Mesmerist's peak time synth techno close down in style.
Review: Intime Anthem is a new label that makes a suitable impressive debut here with a various artists offering that explores a leftfield disco sound. Ramozel's 'Nomentum' has deadpan indie vocals and stark mechanical drums with cold wave synths. Parker Bjoske wars monads with twisted synth modulations and slow, purposeful kicks on 'Tempo.' Naimer then switches the mood with a more playful and 80s-inspired sound, bright retro synths and euro-dance grooves on 'Wildejoe.' There is a supple acid-laced majesty to Ivaj Odnode's closer 'Atillol,' which makes this as vital as it as varied.
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