Review: Utter wildness ensues, and the dancefloor is left tarnished. After the success of their last release together, 'Mirazh', Thomas Schumacher and A.D.H.S. reunite for a potent follow-up, both bottling and jarring the essence of Berlin techno. Simplicity abounds on 'Ex Machina' - perhaps alluding to the portentous Alex Garland film of the same name whose artificially intelligent omens will never leave us - as repetitious carnival drums blend madly with a semaphoric, high-octave melody. 'Umbra' and 'Morbida' are of course wicked techno accompaniments to boot, but in our view, it's really the A that risks most for the biscuit; we're sure you'll love it.
Review: Amorphic and Tensal hook back in to the machine to dialyse their crafts once more, with 'Highland Frequencies' offering up four, machine-numbered atoning lambs to our mech overlords, following up the equally arrayed 'Distant Landscapes' EP (2024) on Blueprint. Now bringing their distinctive cataloguing system to the discographic vanitas Mord, four more 'AT' tracks make for an irresistibly well-layered, synthetically one-of-a-kind release. Only 'AT4' gets a subtitle, 'The Sleepwalker', where a sandman's slumbrous, lollygaggling beats somehow, at the same time, betray a subconscious, paradoxical restlessness.
Review: This orange 7" is a miniature monument to one of soul's most quietly influential figures. Roy AyersiLos Angeles-born, jazz-schooled, funk-mindedicrafted 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine' not to dazzle but to dissolve. It moves with a drowsy clarity: shimmering synth, near-whispered vocals, and a lazily tumbling bassline that never quite lands. Released during a golden run of Ayers' mid-70s material, the track has since become shorthand for warm-weather introspection, equal parts ease and ache. The instrumental version on the reverse keeps the spirit intact, offering a meditative glide through the same terrain. Limited to 300 copies, this orange pressing pairs a low-lit groove with a deepening sense of legacyiAyers' influence isn't just heard, it's felt in the space he leaves behind.
Review: Roy Ayers at his most transcendent. 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine' is more than a summertime anthemiit's a spiritual moodboard that's shaped jazz-funk, soul, r&b and hip-hop for nearly 50 years. Ayers, born in Los Angeles and raised in its fertile fusion scene, places the vibraphone at the music's heart, coaxing heat-haze tones from sparse chords, synths, and that honeyed chorus. Flip it over and the instrumental version unlocks a deeper layer: stripped of vocals, it becomes a pure groove, drifting and hypnotic. What lingers is the balanceibetween melancholy and bliss, rhythm and release. A rare track that feels entirely unhurried yet quietly radical, now preserved in a limited pressing that looks as golden as it sounds.
Review: Few recordings capture the easy intensity of a summer afternoon like 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine'. Released in 1976 and wrapped in slow-drifting synths and soft falsettos, the track became a touchstone not just for Roy Ayers, but for 70s soul and beyond. Born in Los Angeles, Ayers helped define the jazz-funk crossover, placing the vibraphone at the centre of a sound both hazy and sharply detailed. The original vocal take on the A-side still melts under its own warmth; the instrumental on the flip uncovers the careful architecture beneath. Issued here on 7" black wax following Ayers' recent passing, this reissue feels like both a keepsake and a quiet honouring of an artist who shaped a whole way of listening.
A Soft Mist Production - "Upside Down Rainbows" (5:01)
Dr Sud - "Zaffiro" (Jazz cut) (3:59)
DatSIM - "Influx" (4:40)
The Rabbit Hole - "Tail Groove" (4:27)
Review: No matter your particular preference in the deep house world, this various artists' outing from Q1E2 Recordings is sure to have something for you. Mike Riveria & Marco Ohboy, for example, tap into an early sound on 'Euphoria' with its big, brash piano stabs and whistles, while A Soft Mist Production keeps it all cuddly and deep with languid chords draped over gentle drums on 'Upside Down Rainbows.' DatSIM brings in some space-tech vibes for a deft rhythm and neon infused sound on 'Influx' and The Rabbit Hole's 'Tail Groove' has a mad double bass sound jumping about beneath frantic jungle breaks.
Review: A double dose of dancefloor bliss is administered (subversively without doctor's orders) by Kent Soul. These two numbers have been faved by fans from several scenes and the world over: first, there's The Cheques' 'In The Groove', a longingly upbeat homage to a groovin' place by the obscure Louisianan organists. Lead organist Tony Nardi, would later go on to form the Thai funk group Salt & Pepper, famously recording 'Man Of My Word', but for then and now, this 60s manoeuvre would serve to transcend its mod origins, attracting the Northern soul crowd in the years to come. After, 'Arabian Jerk' by The Merits rehears a Goldwax production out of Memphis: mod and exotica collide in a steaming instrumental excitation of backbeat accents and parping 2-4 guitars, making a mod belly dancer's anthem.
Timeless digital roots and dub from The Disciples here featuring the late Jamaican singer Creation Stepper, who i most famously well known for his iconic 70s roots reggae classics. This release includes a fresh take on Stepper's 1978 track, 'Kill Nebuchadnezzar' and it is paired with another vocal gem, 'Ozone Layer,' plus two powerful dub versions. Originally mixed and produced by Russ D in The Disciples' studio in 1991, this music finally saw the light of day in 2011 on the Disciples Vintage label where it quickly sold out. Now back on a great sounding 12", this is a must for roots and dub heads.
Review: Italian producer D-Leria and Argentine artist Translate hop by the the AMTK+ series for its fifth volume, inning four sharp tunes flaunting respective precision and range. 'Filterbank' brings relentless low-end pressure and gritty, bunker breaching pounds, while 'Let It Be' veers into more unexpected territory, looping chopped vocals round a tight coil of laryngeal copper. Flip over for Translate's 'Notation, a wirier mesh of bleeps and spatial design, before the murkier, throbbing layers of 'Shifted Communication' flick us round the face with spring-loaded, space hopper bass design.
Review: Drei Vinyl launched back in 2023 and has slowly but surely amassed a respectable catalogue of various artists' releases. This sixth outing is the most straight-up techno offering yet and it opens with one of Spain's finest in Eduardo De La Calle. 'Deva5Vyasa' is heady and otherworld loop techno perfection with synth daubs and conscious vocals peppering the rubbery kicks. DJ Shufflemaster brings more texture to the raw, percussive madness of 'Axiom' and Tensal layers up unsettling and anxious synth murmurs with rising drum tension on 'Thermal Cycler.' Pergo's 'Lume' is a brash, industrial closer full of urgency.
Review: Let's step back in time as Future Retro reissue this walloping four-piece from 2023. A multi-mate affair, the entire 12 is packed with contemporary jungle talent. On side A we have the German misfit Chromz going toe-to-toe with bossman Reaper on two ice cold cuts. 'Forever Dubbed' is a dreamy, choppy serenade with more unexpected twists and turns than an AI drawn hand while 'Diff Selection' is all about that rattling snare. Flip for two startlingly fresh cuts from Bristol badboy Artificial Red; 'Subconscious' is all about those big splashy drums and cosmic whirls while 'Something I Know' sends us off to other planets as the EP comes to an end. Solid.
Review: The new soul project by ex-members of Silver Skylarks, Dorrington Drive, hears lush productions and distinct melodies channelled into the self-revelatory spirit of early 70s AM pop and soul. This cut could've easily been heard on one such radio station, a staple of the time. With the track named after the Riegelmann Boardwalk in Brooklyn, we find ourselves embarking on a thoroughly enjoyable Atlantic coastline jaunt here, through bombastic funk bass and slapping toms.
Review: Amulanga, operating out of Thailand, emphasise beauteous atmospheric progressive house, pairing each compilation with exquisite, extra-worldly sci-fi themes. Their latest, sixth vinyl V/A hears additions from Dulus, Acrobat, Ilias Katalenos & Plecta, Taleman and Shri & Alej, each track a seamless infusion of living, writhing organic sound. More than just music, the aim is to imply a narrative, shuttling and transforming listeners over and beyond centrifugal, interplanetary orbits - not just dancefloors.
The Way You Love Me (Dim TSOP version - Dimitri From Paris Glitterbox retouch) (8:14)
The Way You Love Me (Tom Moulton Philly Re-Grooved remix) (12:54)
Review: Some may argue that Dimitri From Paris and Tom Moulton have already provided the definitive remixes of Ron Hall, the Muthafunkaz and Marc Evans' 2006 gem "The Way You Love Me". This Glitterbox 12", which features alternative versions of those two legendary reworks, proves that they're wrong. Dimitri's "Glitterbox Retouch" of his Philadelphia International-inspired TSOP Version is a little more focused and tightly edited than its predecessor, but naturally incredibly similar. It's Moulton's "Philly Regrooved Mix", though, that's the real stunner. A near perfect example of Moulton's classic mixing skills, it sees the original disco mixer give space to each instrumental solo before unleashing the now oh-so-familiar vocal. The result is 13 minutes of unashamed disco bliss.
Review: Under a full moon to commemorate Portland's official holiday on their first Dead Moon Night, Mike Lastra recorded Michael Hurley play 'Jane' live at Portland City Hall in 2017. He performed, rather wittily, this cover of Portland Oregon Dead Moon's 1991 release to the most well attended non protest event in the history of the hall. Hurley, American "outsider folk" singer-songwriter, guitarist, banjo and fiddle player, and part of the Greenwich Village folk music scene of the 1960s and 70s is not only known for his iconoclastic songs, but also his cartoons and paintings, here illustrating the single's cover. The B Side 'Go My Way' features an unreleased Range Rats track from 1986 recorded at home by Fred Cole, Toody Cole and Rolly (their Roland drum machine), covered paradoxically by Portland's own Dead Moon in 2004, giving a comforting circularity to this limited 7" on Mississippi US, a label that prides itself in supporting artists and their families when crafting ethical and respectful releases of previously overlooked music. So, if you're into the Appalatian folk troubadour tradition with an undertone of irony that has a bluesy edge, you'll love this.
Keller - "That Kind Of Girl" (The Dukes original mix) (5:13)
Mark Funk - "Here To Stay" (5:48)
Danny Cruz - "Waiting (For You)" (6:55)
Makito - "Jackin With Millie" (6:31)
Review: If you're reading this you will probably already know that this Cruise Music series has been full of gold over the previous instalments. Whoever is in charge for curation has pulled it off again with four more funky and disco infused house gems. Keller's opener is a classy mix of filtered vocals and drum loops with an aching soul edge. Mark Funk offers a more party starting disco bumper with classic vocal hooks and Danny Cruz takes things onto a summer terrace with glorious horns and uplifting grooves. Makito shuts down with the dusty deep house shuffles and party atmospheres of 'Jackin With Millie.'
Barbara Lewis - "Baby What Do You Want Me To Do" (2:36)
Tony & Tyrone - "Please Operator" (2:48)
Review: US American soul singer and songwriter Barbara Lewis had a smooth style that very much influenced rhythm and blues during her 60s heyday. She began writing songs at the age of just nine and as a teen, recorded with producer Ollie McLaughlin. Her best known tunes club high in Billboard charts and include 'Hello Stranger' and 'Baby I'm Yours' but here it is the swinging sounds and swooning stings of 'Baby What Do You Want Me To Do' which gets pressed up alongside Tony & Tyrone's Northern Soul gem 'Please Operator' which is more raw and urgent soul.
Review: Serious seriality from the OHM Series, an imprint and sole patent owner of the rare, aurally administered chemical known as Omega X. The alphabetic Greek letter ohm determines impedance / resistance in an electrical circuit, and so too do each of the dub techno tracks released on the OHM Series amount to tergiversating transductions, their chillout chord-knocks and hardened beats never quite letting us settle. Though titles like 'Innocence' and 'Downtime' persist here, the tracks perhaps inadvertently prove that flow is impossible without resistance: Separation's track is especially unorthodox in its strange reordering of phaser, pan and saturation effects on the pad-stab, which produces an unusual swirling effect.
Review: The Top Ranking crew has pulled another doozy out of the bag here. Freddie McKay's 'Mope & Cry' finds the vocalist at his most vulnerable and expressive. It was originally released in 1974 during the golden era of Jamaican music and is steeped in rich harmonies with a rolling bassline with gently skanking guitar that cushions McKay's aching vocals. With a voice that effortlessly conveys sorrow and resilience, he delivers a timeless tale of love lost and emotional survival. The killer dub on the flip makes this one a no-brainer.
Review: The fact that this is the 13th release in the Ohm series catalogue need not impede the assurance of quality by way of superstitions about unlucky numbers. New ones from Modernism, Tim Kossmann, Bec Kaczor and Kirill Matveev work through gassy textures that rasp against negative, membranous moulds, be this on the understated, unassuming 'Love Goes' or the neurotransmissive 'Deserve Rage'. Bjarnar Jonsson has a good radar for talent, and does a bang-up A&R job on this resistant, reactant techno comp.
Review: Nicole and Troy's latest collaboration sharpens their vision for Cath Records, the Berlin-based label they launched as a home for boundary-pushing techno. Their stripped-back but potent style thrives on precision, drawing from deep club lineage while keeping an eye on the future. 'Out Of Control' is a lean, tunnelling workout, its tension amplified by Z@p, the Uruguayan producer whose percussive, swing-heavy take on techno has earned him a cult following. His remix reshapes the track with a ghostly, skipping momentum. 'Woo Woo' flexes a rubbery, low-end groove, built for peak-time propulsion, while 'Fractals' twists through warped, off-kilter sequencing. A sharp, high-pressure release that reinforces the duo's deft touch.
Review: The third in Exitus Records' lightyear spanning V/A series, we again hear six new, boundary-pushing new ones from six satellite artists of the present day Berlin techno scene. Opening chord cascade 'Figure Eight' by Pink Concrete contrasts sharply to tunnelling techno-body suite 'The Dream Of Motion' by Krow, signalling several more tuff propulsions to come: most notably Sayid K's 'No Lights', a balmy nightscape from the newcomer, where digital zaps initially double up as hi-hats.
Heptones, Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - "Crying Over You" (2:38)
Review: After a recent Pressure Sounds compilation put together the best of Caltone Records - documenting the truest gems of a great Jamaican dub label - the horse's mouth is now heard neighing. Caltone themselves have now reissued Devon Russell & The Tartans' 'Making Love', a long-lost from the late 1960s troubadours. Ne'er released before, it also comes backed exclusively with a bluesy Heptones, Tommy McCook & The Supersonics lamentation, 'Crying Over You'.
Review: Finland's Common Labour label unites four different producers on the fourth volume of its Odd Jobs series, and each of them goes deep in their own inimitable way. Omar Santis begins with an unhuried and smoky dubbed out house with wispy pads and subtle vocals on 'Pinoki.' Flabaire ups the energy with some slick, tightly programmed but smooth drum loops that bounce freely beneath warm pads which infuse the mix with soul. Thomas Wood's 'All It Takes' has molten bass and liquid synths for a dub house delight on 'All It Takes' and Potholes's 'Bromsman' is the headiest of the lot with DJ Koze-style melodic whimsy.
Review: Junior Scaife delivers two ensouled sides, produced and co-written by Penrose mainstay Anthony Masino. One of the most gifted vocalists in the soulscape of today, Scaife infuses every note with a shrill sprechgesang, a longing, heaving intonation heard between the runs. 'Nobody Gets My Love' is an ode to tensions of love and pride, wielding the late-60s Hestor and Wylie Detroit sound as a listless instrument for impudence. On the B, 'Too Much Too Soon', offers a slow-burning ballad laced with wah guitar and a comparatively elegance, marking a standout for the lowrider soul crowd.
Tomoko Kina - "Tie Island" (No Man's Island mix) (5:08)
Review: Japan's Fourth Wave Record Factory sure does know how to serve up brilliantly beguiling sounds that ate you well out of your here and now. Next up is this, 'Dondon Bushi' 7" by Shoukichi Kina, Champloo and Tomoko Kina that explores a mix of Okinawan traditional sounds and modern grooves. The Mbira dance mix of the A-side jam is a bubbly rhythm with worldly percussion and soulful melodies that echo folk majesty and are topped with a wonderful weird vocal from Shoukichi Kina. On the flip, there is a more lazy and downtempo style dub rhythm, 'Tie Island' (No Man's Island mix) which is another worldly trip.
Review: Three South American artists - SV3, Trajano, Sebastian - converge alongside French maestro TC-80 on a new, gung-ho vinyl release from Coqueto. Reflecting a para-militant mood, from 'Armament Belico' to 'Hipnosis Global', hi-tech metanoia is balanced with a crude militancy here, reflecting an aggressive permutation of trance. Closer 'Desapariciones' (from Spanish, "disappearances"), we round out on a scathing but ghostly judgment call, with gasping transitions and tanky poundings.
Review: T Jacques and Velvet Velour apparently made the opener on this new EP some time ago and thought it was lost. It has recently been rediscovered and we couldn't be happier: 'Hot Hands' is spaced out industrial cosmic tech with synth lines carving neat parabolas and crispy drums bringing the funk. Both artists then go it alone for one cut each: T Jacques's 'Deep Blue' is buffed up deep house with an electronic edge and whimsical synth motifs, then Velvet Velour's 'What U Like' has a playful and restless groove daubed with neon colours and sensuous vocal whispers.
Review: Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but currently based in Amsterdam, Augusto Taito debuts on Renegade Methodz with a fierce techno EP that cements his rising status. Taito brings the intensity and rawness here with pounding rhythms that build on solid previous releases on Mord and Tar Hallow. Opener 'Rampage' is all tom-laced techno pressure that never quits, 'Endless Flow' twitches with sci-fi edge over thudding drums and 'Intuitive Force' gets dark and menacing. 'Arena' is bold, stripped-down, and built for dark rooms and heavy systems. With a sound that's unmistakably his, Taito delivers techno at its most uncompromising here.
Review: Talking Drums return with Volume 8, another leftfield disco delight from the Manchester-based crew known for their genre-hopping, floor-filling edits. This latest 12" twists vintage grooves into fresh, club-ready energy, blending Euro-NRG, deep disco cuts and Balearic euphoria with their usual offbeat charm. The A-side, 'Fever Dreams', is a full-throttle, sweat-dripping workoutisequencers throb, horns wail and twin basslines drive the track forward with an unrelenting urgency. A cheeky vocal and a breakdown primed for peak-time chaos make this one irresistible for late-night mischief. On the flip, 'Too Hot' dials down the BPM but keeps the heat on, its laid-back disco strut laced with silky strings, funky breaks, and shimmering Rhodes keys. Then there's 'Maximum Balearic Dancer', a sun-soaked closer that takes a fragment of Swiss fusion and transforms it into a hypnotic, flamenco-tinged groove, complete with breezy synths and a soaring piano solo. With their latest releaseiexpect this one to become a secret weapon for DJs who like their edits playful, punchy and a little bit unpredictable.
B-STOCK: Sleeve scratched and torn but otherwise in excellent condition
Other World (7:42)
Dolce Julia (7:13)
Voice Of Omicron (6:35)
Monkey Key (6:00)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve scratched and torn but otherwise in excellent condition***
A strong, strong showing from Duca Bianco after a period of relative dormancy, teaming up with Manchester's Talking Drums for a musical culture clash with maximum impact. The four tracks see a wide palate of influences being mixed up, from the cheeky Afrobeat shuffle of 'Monkey Key' to the 80s electropop of 'Voice Of Omicron' and the Nico-esque vocal delivery on Balearic groover 'Dolce Julia'. This is an EP with lots of surprises, tons of originality and musical confidence brimming over its edges.
Review: Released as a special picture vinyl, this collaboration offers two versions of the track that reimagine its infectious energy. Talla 2XLC, a celebrated figure in uplifting trance, teams up with Fragma (Ramon Zenker) for a stunning rework of the iconic trance anthem 'Toca's Miracle'. The A-side features the Extended Mix, a high-octane, 138 BPM version that drives with relentless basslines, booming kicks and tight percussion. The uplifting Ibiza-style piano synths combine with balearic percussion and bilingual vocals, creating an instantly euphoric vibe. As the breakdown introduces the signature Balearic guitar riff, the track builds to a peak of vocal trance intensity, leading into a powerful instrumental finish. On the flip side, the previously unreleased RRAW mix adds an exciting twist to the classic, presenting a fresh, dynamic take on the original. 'Toca's Miracle' continues to resonate as a timeless anthem, evoking memories of beachside raves and sun-drenched nights. With this new release, Talla 2XLC and Fragma successfully reignite the spirit of the track, breathing new life into a classic.
York - "The Wave (Is Coming)" (Back To The Roots extended mix) (7:57)
Talla 2XLC - "The Wave (Is Coming)" (extended mix) (7:09)
Review: Talla 2XLC and German composer, producer and songwriter Torsten Stenzel (who is still best known for his work as YORK) revive the 1997 trance classic 'The Wave' by Sosa with a big new remake that realigns it with contemporary sounds. Landing on bright coloured vinyl via Technoclub Retro it has two extended mixes that reignite the energy of the original with brilliantly euphoric flair. On Side A, York's 'Back to the Roots Extended Mix' has already been getting heavy plays in clubs and on festival stages around the world with its high-octane melodic rush an utter thrill when played nice and loud. Side B brings an exclusive new remix by Talla 2XLC that is only available on this pressing.
Review: Amsterdam's Bordello a Parigi's ongoing Diamonds In The Night series has not only proved to be a reliable source of new - if authentically old sounding - Italo-disco, Hi-NRG and proto-Eurodance, but also a brilliant platform for new and up-and-coming artists. Volume seven in the series is another strong offering. It begins with the tops-off, melody-driven Hi-NRG joy of Tallac's 'Chemtrail Surfers' and concludes with the vocoder-heavy early morning dark bew wavce disco of 'Disco Homicide' by Hypersensitive. Sandwiched in between you'll find the tough, throbbing, strobe-lit and sweat-soaked hedonism of Luksek's 'Tropicale' and the Bobby Orlando and early Pet Shop Boys influenced excellence of 'That Moment' by Francesco Cascella.
Review: Nearly a decade since the Swedish trio's last full-length Casino (2014), brothers Andreas and Johan Berthling, along with Tomas Hallonsten, ease back into the fold with Preludes, a five-track collection that reaffirms their mastery of delicate, genre-blurring soundscapes. Following the promising 'Refrains' 10" in 2023, this new release is a comforting reminder that Tape's signature blend of acoustic instrumentation and electronic processing remains as singular and stirring as ever, as they continue to weave hypnotic textures that feel both ethereal and earthy. 'Opener Lights Out' is a tender folk threnody where repeating guitar patterns create a meditative haze. 'Naukluft Plateau' drifts with ruminative piano over cascading tones, while the brief 'Golden Gain' mixes huffing harmonium and subtle electronic scrums. 'Tangential Thoughts' is quintessential Tape, a dreamy two-chord motif, rustling organ and delicate percussion all evoking wistful reveries. The closing track, 'On The Accordion Bus', sways with glitch-like textures and gentle rhythms, blurring the line between transit and reflection. There's a unique warmth to their balance of melody and abstraction here, reminiscent of Aphex Twin's ambient pop or Susumu Yokota's textural elegance. Praise indeed, but sometimes the quietest returns make the deepest impact.
Review: Tape Pack aka. Nick Dobbs first set about this relatively new d&b alias after finding inspiration in the so-called "tape packs" exchanged among friends in 90s playgrounds, many of which can still be found in book and record exchanges today. After 2024's 'World Unknown' now comes 'Light Years', an EP of equal heft made up of readily tractable beats (that 'Funky Mule' break is a real highlight). 'Antares', meanwhile, does not use the OG autotune tech in it as far as we know, as it is bereft of vocals, but it is the most heavenly track. The best things in life come in small packages, and the same can certainly be said for the latest Tape Pack.
Ramon Tapia - "Fear" (Dynamic Forces remix) (5:05)
Review: Netherlands techno titan Planet Rhythm goes full percussive gas giant on their latest V/A, 'Friction', a motorsport motivator full of accelerometric elan - one of several V/As to grace their revving catalogue in recent times. Ramon Tapia leads the motorcade with 'Friction', a stabbing aerator full of overtop claps and rims, while Louis Lp's 'Radioactivity' unsettles with its seething high ringing and affectively isolated chord-stab-melody. Deas' 'Hard Dreams' nods to the real, unshakeably material core of dreams, with its rancorous full-tone acids, while Ramon Topia closes with 'Fear', a restless, chord-throttling, hard trancey, speed demonic rally racer.
Review: Shut Off Notice welcomes Teakup - a local Columbus, Ohio DJ and producer born Lauri Reponen and known for his stylish techno - for a second outing on the label. 'Forest Bed Moss' kicks off with dusty mid-tempo breaks and deep basslines full of soul, while 'Mhm' is a mechanical groove with dubby undertones and nice chopped vocals. 'Rain Groove Revisit' is a deep, percolating and stumbling rhythm with a smattering of percussion and bubbly feel infused with cooing female vocals. Finally, Teakup remixes Rew's 'Fragile Abundance' into a deft and lithe minimal dub for the small hours. Sophisticated stuff once more from Teakup.
Review: 2025 trip hop done right. From the anthro-floral creatures depicted on the front cover, to its overarching muted parchment paper sound, Canadian debuters Teal portend a bright future career with their first ever LP Original Watercolour (Spiritual World). Comprised of Ashleigh and Melissa Ball, known as the Ball Sisters, together with producer N1_SOUND, this bi-coastal trio affirm a fresh, genre-bucking release. Themed around the innate interconnectedness of life as well as the personal journeys of the three artists, this winsome release celebrates subbing and dubbing both past and present, adult and childlike, as the jovial street soul jaunts of 'Sleep On It' contrast the barmy blear-waves of 'Locked In 2 Love' and 'Can't Shake The Feeling', to name a sweet few.
Review: Telefax Productions - mysterious musical masterminds formed by veteran producers with roots in the late 80s - finally drop a vinyl release of their 2024 breakout club anthem, 'Break This House Down'. It is an unashamedly revivalist hip-house banger backed by proper DJs like Honey Dijon and Luke Solomon and features fiery verses from rising Buffalo MC DeeVoeNay. Alongside the flame-hot original is a live band version with HR Nightmare, plus a rough and ready bruk remix from London's EVM128 and last but not least, a visceral acid house rework. This is a perfect example of how you balance nostalgia and freshness and do it right. The package is finished in style with fine artwork by KLF legend Jimmy Cauty.
Review: In a dimly lit room in Dalston, the crowd is entranced as Finnish jazzman Jimi Tenor commands the space by blending smoky sax, wild Moog lines and a hypnotic electronic groove. When the track ends, he muses aloud, unsure what to name it. A voice from the crowd calls out, 'Release Me!', and so it began. That spontaneous moment sparked a very special release on Fluid Ounce, celebrating 25 years of the label with a limited edition vinyl from the iconic multi-instrumentalist. Chris Vogado (zero dB), under his new alias Special Guest, delivers a bruk-meets-house remix plus a dub B-side. A lovely 12".
Review: West Coast soul outfit Thee Baby Cuffs keep the slow-burning romance alive with 'There Ain't Enough Roses', a tender ballad drenched in harmonised falsettos and vintage charm. Now composed of Joe Narvaez and Reality Jonez, the group channels classic lowrider soul, working once again with Finnish production outfit Cold Diamond & Mink. Their signature downtempo style remains intactilush instrumentation, delicate grooves, and a melody built to sway. Previous Timmion singles like 'My My Baby' and 'You're My Reason' cemented their status as torchbearers of group soul, and this latest offering only deepens that legacy. On the flip, a flute-led instrumental nods to Steve Parks, sealing the track's timeless appeal.
Review: Disco Tape 4 is a compelling collection that navigates the full spectrum of disco's evolution, seamlessly blending house and late-night techno grooves. The Mechanical Man's 'eyes supreme' stands out with its melodic hook that gradually intensifies the energy. It's a slow-burning groover featuring soulful disco lyrics, creating an atmosphere that's both beautiful and entrancing. 'with you' by Just Guess and Tecam takes a funkier route, with a vibrant guitar riff and a soulful house vocal reminiscent of the best Naked Music releasesiideal for setting a warm, inviting vibe. Other great highlights include the other Mechanical man track 'Space Exploration,' a track that dives into deeper techno territory. Its wicked atmospheric groove adds a layer of sophistication, perfect for those late-night moments when the dancefloor craves something more introspective. Closing out the highlights, Ohn De La Noise's 'good afternoon' offers a smooth deep house sound that blends late-night disco into house, creating a seamless transition that's both elegant and satisfying. A very well-rounded record, expertly capturing the diverse influences of disco's enduring legacy.
Review: TNT Rap Classics are a ghostly rap reissues outfit, operating in the shadows, but they've churned out a truly solid ream of stadium/megastar rap reissues on 7" for several years now. After lookbacks on Nelly and Beyonce they now pay due deference to Eminem, placing special attention on the rapper's early-noughts Slim Shady era. 'Without Me' was the whimsical, cheekily intoned lead single from The Eminem Show, finding Eminem lampooning pop culture, the media, and his critics. 'The Real Slim Shady', meanwhile, came before, with biting critique of the pop cultural fascination with authenticity: "Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?"
Review: Deep-headed, deeper-bodied dub house, hurtling our way from New Yorkers Dopeus and Satoshi Tomiie. Building on Tomiie's already relatively storied career, this chronological time-clock keeps track of the big smoke's early hours for us: '2AM' and '3AM' build to knifing edges, the latter track especially working from blueprints of overdriven satu-rave and chambered echoic dub techno, basking in hollowness. As we cross into the temporal impossibility of '4:60AM', 909 puff snares and naively high strings are accrued, and by the turn of 'Sunrise', an entire breakbeat has worked its way around our eyelid bags.
Review: Hailing from Tokyo, Satoshi Tomiie emerged in the New York scene after Frankie Knuckles discovered him and his debut record, 'Tears' in 1989, was co-produced with Knuckles and featured Robert Owens. It is a dance music classic and as part of Def Mix Productions with David Morales, Satoshi crafted iconic 1990s remixes for artists like Madonna, Mariah Carey, and Inner City. Here collaborating with Ibiza's Tuccillo, Satoshi created 'Delta Dubs', a live, one-take dub house project recorded on a Soundcraft Delta desk. This tribute to dub's pioneers reimagines the essence of dub with a futuristic twist that lands courtesy of 20/20 Vision.
Review: Tommaso is an exciting young talent who has brought plenty of freshness to the underground scenes of both Florence and Chicago. Now he debuts on Rocksteady Disco with more of his signature organic and soulful sounds. This one kicks off with 'G Class' which is a peak-time house pumper with lovely liquid bass and sunny strings. 'Fierro Viejo' is more twisted with rumbling bass and a peppering of percussion that will twist dancers inside out. 'Giente Que' is an arp-fuelled Italo-inflected banger and last of all is the more slow, seductive and absorbing sound of Snake Pit' for late-night lovers. Another fine EP from Tommaso.
Review: The rather enigmatic Tonearm is back with a new transmission that is clearly inspired by the ambient innovations of AFX. Innocent synth modulations, naive keys and thinking patterns all bring futuristic AI visions of peaceful utopia to life on 'Minerva', which is a beatless delight. 'Luminance' has a deeply buried rhythm and sustained chords that hum up top, then 'Isko' has cascading melodic rain and hurried rhythm suggestions way off in the distance. 'Ilthat' allows a moment of hope and joy with its brighter synth colours deftly looped and ever shape shifting. A quiet, impressive future sound full of nostalgia.
Review: The Disco Gioconda crew spin narratives as they do grooves, dream-weaving throwback Italo-style records through editable wattles. Trend-chasers begone: Gino Tonico and Tino Arancino together tap into a sound whose immanent quality foregoes any need for PR preservatives, letting each section breathe, twist, and evolve organically as energy builds. 'Vorrei Rubaria' leans into drama without excess, moving through bold shifts in tone and rhythm that hold attention from first bar to last - its dub mix, meanwhile, swirls our medulla, leaving us cochlear blear. It's a record designed for full playthrough, rewarding those who stay with it.
Review: Turin's Bunkereeno Kollektiv and ITALIA90 have come together to launch their own new label Anna Records and it debuts with a split EP from Tools 4 Seduction and Lachina. The Argentinian former goes first with the Italo-infused sound of 'Like on VHS' full of dreamy chords and retro-future drums. 'Choruscan' is brighter and happier with cheery chords and a wonky baseline brings the vibes. On the B-side, Lachina who hails from Turin flips the vibe with more strident disco-techno sounds and direct cosmic energy on 'Out Of The Past'. His 'Metallic Rain' then brings flashy synth arps and a speedy intergalactic groove.
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