12” (full cover + download) - Incl. Remix by OCB from Casa Voyager.

Tracklist
A1) Tightrope
A2) Tightrope (OCB Remix)
B1) Freefall
B2) Spiral

Infotext
Joonam is here. The new project from fellow NY friends Elon Admony & Nima Khalilian is landing its
breaks and techno laden debut EP on Vakant this Summer. On remix duties we welcome OCB from
Casa Voyager.
Fotography by Expreso Nova (Valentín Rodríguez) More

12” (+ download)

Tracklist
A1) Superior Things
A2) Heatwave
B1) Chappers Said So (Voiski Remix)
B2) Chappers Said So

Infotext

CYRK, the Belgian-German duo of Sammy Goossens and Pascal Hetzel, is giving its debut release on Vakant with three fast-paced no-holds-barred electro jams topped off with a remix by French producer Voiski.

'Superior Things', the eponymous title track, kicks off the EP with driving funk and and acid lead synths, followed by 'Heatwave', another futuristic high-tech-funker. On the flip we have 'Chappers Said So', a sublime homage to classic Detroit electro and last but definitely not least Voiski's remix of the latter, an immersive and trance-inducing techno re-work for you to get lost in.

Artwork by SEO – www.artseo.de
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12” (+ download)

Tracklist
A1) Ate-Up
A2) Crisis Engine
B1) Alex, Why? (Maenad Veyl Edit)
B2) Alex, Why? (AQXDM Remix)

Infotext
Forever cursed with “deep-“ and “tech-house” labels by the press due to decisions taken 10 years ago before he had any idea how this industry worked, Avatism returns mildly angrier than ever before with ‘Ate-Up’, an EP the producer actually started writing during an MDMA-induced lucid dream after Vakant label boss spiked his drinks in 2011.

To give his poor soul some credibility, we’ve enlisted AQXDM (Aquarian & Deapmash, fresh from their storming debut on Bedouin Records) and the mysterious Maenad Veyl (Veyl, Pinkman, Death & Leisure) on remix duties.
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Excellent 12" Package with 2 (!) Vinyl Only Remixes + manually stamped + download + A2 poster!

Tracklist
A1) Let's Go Program Thomas
A2) Let's Go Program Thomas (The Exaltics Remix) - VINYL ONLY
B1) Pranic Lift 777
B2) Pranic Lift 777 (Evigt Mörker Remix) - VINYL ONLY

Infotext
Kenneth Scott finally making his debut on Vakant, long overdue, such a great DJ and repeated guest
at Vakant parties. Phew.. Remixes by The Exaltics, co-owner of acclaimed electro imprint Solar One
Music, and Evigt Mörker of Northern Electronics fame. The Exaltics & Evigt Mörker Remix will only
appear on the vinyl. More

Tracklist:
A1) Dinner with Bogdan
A2) Ararapira Jazz
B1) Ararapira Jazz (Spacetravel Remix) - VINYL ONLY
B2) Desorientado feat. Sabino

Infotext:
Cesare vs Disorder, one half of Azimute and Serialism label head, returns to Vakant. The remix by Perlon artist Spacetravel will only appear on the vinyl. More

12" (stamped + download)
Tracklist:
A1) Lone
A2) Sib
B1) Hord (Convextion Remix) - VINYL ONLY
B2) Hord

Infotext
Tolga Fidan returns to Vakant. Remix by Convextion (vinyl only).
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Tracklist:
A1) Seria A2) Mais Sus B1) Cu Balans (Varhat Remix) - VINYL ONLY B2) Cu Balans

Infotext:
Consistency and a diverse but functional aesthetic have kept Berlin based record label Vakant ahead of most imprints operating in the same space. Having released records since 2004 they have focused on working with only a select number of artists as they believe this is the only way to endure in a scene which is susceptible to trends, with Premiesku being part of the family as well as the likes of DeWalta and Avatism. Having already released a highly successful EP on the label in 2014, and more recently being a part of the labels latest anniversary compilation, 10 Years Vakant, the Romanian trio return with a driving four track EP. This EP features catchy melodies, vivid emotion and driving, floor-focussed percussion, which consists of three original tracks as well as the ever-dependable Varhat stepping up on remix duties. One of Frances most exciting exports, Varhat has already released a string of impressive records on labels such as Mulen and Howl. His interpretation of 'Cu Balans' brings a signature sound which portrays a lighter more bouncy feel to the track.
Premiesku which consists of Livio & Roby and George G are a Romanian joint alias that have been releasing and performing together for over nine years. Their widespread influence on the flourishing underground scene is no secret, their innovative live performances, and constant flow of cutting edge productions remain one of their nation's leading lights in the field.
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Tracklist:
A1) Octogonal Library
B1) Betelgeuse Descent
B2) Black Head Junction

Infotext:
Vakant comes back with a very special release from an unknown group of creative entities. Three cuts of tribal space techno weaponry aimed at the dancefloor. We have received a message from entities lost in between the stars in the vacuum of interstellar space. The transmission was encrypted in an ancient code we were able to translated into frequencies understandable to earthlings. A psychic telegram has been sent to us, activating the body and the mind, divided into aggregations of codes that form three tracks of straight in your face, high-octane fueled, acidic tribal techno, riding on solid bass lines, trippy synths, shiny percussions and abstract ambiences.
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Tracklist:
A) Contemporary State Of Mind B1) N.M.K.S B2) Midnight Arguments

Infotext:
Expectedly powerful three tracker from the Belgian Sons of Tiki who are slowly shifting their sound to a little more subtle but yet driving direction.
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VINYL INCL DOWNLOAD CODES
Tracklist:
A) No Such Key B1) Fold B2) St3am
Infotext:
State-of-the-art techno from Nico Purman. The Argentinean's vision of contemporary club music has always been located somewhere between techno and electro. His Pattern Recognition EP turns out to be Nico's most uncompromising work since his early releases on Vakant and scores with three bold and infectious tracks for the club.
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Tracklist:
A1) Electricity Reshape A2) Singular Reshape B1) Tidal Reshape B2) Modal Reshape
Infotext
Romanian house business at its best. Livio & Roby return to Vakant with this 4 tracker after their last excursion as Premiesku. Gotta love them either way!
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12" Tracklist:
A1) Three-man Attack A2) Three-man Attack (Malin Genie Remix)
B1) Don't Reach Back B2) Don't Reach Back (Dorian Paic Remix)
Infotext
Belgian duo Sons of Tiki bringing the heat to the dancefloor with their new EP. Featuring remixes by Malin Genie and Dorian Paic.
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EAN/UPC: 827170588264
12" Tracklist:
A1) Vortex A2) Unreason B1) Vortex (Cristi Cons Remix) B2) Vortex (Fango Remix)
Infotext:
It's not a simple thing to write about your own tunes. Your concept is innate, the music itself is in your mind and comes out as a natural flow, talking about it is a different thing. This time I wanted to come up with something different for my new EP on Vakant. Something unexpected for the ones who know Cesare vs Disorder's sound. I wanted to make a few tunes that reminded me about those lost feelings of the 90s, when electronic music was made not only for the clubs but also for the soul and the mind, not directly for a purpose but as a natural answer to time and space. After the classic "orientation" battle with head-honcho Alex we finally agreed on these tunes "Vortex" and "Unreason", one I would say more spaced out and heavy orientated, the other almost resembling those Electronica times when I really enjoyed flying with my brain and my emotions.

We finally also agreed to add a couple of remixes of Vortex by Romanian rising star Cristi Cons and Italian talent Fango. They both delivered unique stellar interpretations and I am happy to present the project to the world.

Cesare
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UPC 827170562165 RD: 15.09.2014
12" Tracklist: A1) Conducting The Method A2) Sothis B1) Modern Conflict Theory B2) Sothis (Dead Heat Remix)
Info:
After first performing together at Sonar Festival with what was essentially a live version of our respective "B.O.A.T.S." and "Adamant" albums, Thomas and I decided to expand on these ideas for something more broad and improvisation-centric. After months in the studio drinking nothing but amaretto and working on new music for this purpose, our new live experiment (now simply called CW/A) was ready. The reception on these shows was so (thankfully) positive that Vakant eventually pressured us into releasing some sections as tracks. "Conducting the Method" is nothing other than a sample of what this new project is about: a collection of three excerpts taken from this year's performances. To round things off, we invited over our friends Dead Heat for a reinterpretation of one of our tracks. We can state with confidence that we are excited these tracks are no longer confined to our club and festival performances and can't wait for everyone to hear them. Hopefully you will enjoy them as much as we enjoy playing them out.
Francesco
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UPC 827170555969 RD: 28.07.2014
12" Tracklist: A1) Pe Dos A2) Noococ (Sons of Tiki Remix) B1) Pe Dos (Avatism Remix) B2) Trandafirit
Info
Sitting down and writing about our latest EP was a fun but challenging exercise, we scratched our heads and this may sound bad but we couldn't think of deep, dark interesting stories on how we made these tracks or what they represent. These jams are simply a combination of previous and random happy accidents that have come together and saying anything else would be a lie. This however does not mean that the thinking behind them is completely random, the three cuts that we selected for this EP we feel are a journey of experimentation and a culmination of unexpected sounds and feelings. A word that we found best described the EP was 'Irony'. The most ironic thing we feel is that the main basis of these tracks were born on the stage during our live performances and they have now been reworked and moulded into a record. We however feel that this brings an interesting element to the EP that yes it is recorded and set, but you are not quite sure where the next sound or feeling will come from. A hi hat? A kick? It is pure 'organised randomness'... I suppose we should talk about some of the music and try and explain what we mean! We start with 'Pe dos', which in plain English means inside out and it was a track that we had started back in 2011. We were flicking through our 'curiosity closets' one day and found it, we played around with it and heard a kick drum that was not arranged correctly in the sequence due to a random manipulation of the sequencer. Our first thought was to just change it, but then we decided to wait..... when all the other sounds of the tracks came together we threw the kick back in and BAM, Even the acapella voice of the track was screaming. Therefore it was a simple for us to name this track as we worked on it in a completely back to front and "Inside Out" way! The other two tracks on the EP were born in a similar way, reborn again out of the dark corners of our packed 'curiosity closet'. The track 'Noococ' is perhaps the track with the most irony on the EP. Having been made originally after an amazing gig at Amnesia in Ibiza in 2012, we were in a recording frame of mind which gave the song its basis but we would still play it within our live shows. 'Noococ' has been therefore from recorded track, to live and now back to recorded in a quite weird but groovy journey. The final track, 'Trandafirit' has no such meaning. It is again a raw track stemming our live show some time ago that inspired us to recreate and retouch. Again through experiments and lots of head banging on walls, we recreated and accomplished a track that stayed true to the original writing of it but also embodied change which in a way is symbolic of the development of our project over the years. Now, we did warn you at the beginning of this wordy mess that it has been 'organised randomness' that has brought us to create these tracks and this EP, but one thing we are sure about is that we knew we would love to and be very honoured is to be able to put out this collection of cuts via Vakant. A label that has been close to our hearts and heads for a long time. We hope you enjoy the EP and that the music can help translate some of the shit above.
Much Love!
Livio, Roby & George
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UPC 827170548367 RD: 10.06.2014
12" Tracklist: A) Quantum Entanglement - Acid Thunder feat. Mentrix AA) Quantum Entanglement - Need You feat. Fink
Infotext
For the second instalment from Quantum Entanglement we delve into the misty past, a time when moving parts ruled the dance, when the power of the night rested on a needle and a bassline, and before CDJs calculated the bpm for you...you had to touch things, buy things, and the bassline ruled over all. Acid Thunder, a classic by Fast Eddie, was the first dance record i ever bought. It was important. The guy who sold it to me, at the time a spotty school kid in his school uniform, was called John Stapleton, and the shop was Sidetrax in Bristol. Mentrix totally gets the kinda NY sluttiness of the original, and brings it right up to date....less of a cover, more of a homage, the entanglement of then and now. Need You is an entanglement of two very unlikely BFFs... John Lee Hooker and Joey Beltram. This isn't really a cover, it's more like the offspring of many things, times, and moments - it's like the grandchild of John Lee Hooker's track dated the nephew of Joey Beltram's track and lived in Neukölln. Again, Direct - "Techno Gone Mad" on R&S was another of my earliest techno purchases - at the time it was considered "Dutch Hardcore" but now, it's almost cute....
Quantum Entanglement....recycling other people's good ideas since January 2014"
Fin Greenall
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UPC 827170536968 Release: 17.03.2014
12" Tracklist: A1) Avatism - Serpentine (Clockwork (C/W) Remix) A2) Avatism - Adamant (Lake People Remix) B1) Avatism - Laments feat. Federico Rizzo (DeWalta Remix) B2) Avatism - Bitter Reminiscence feat. Clockwork (C/W) (Fairmont Remix)
Hey everyone,
It's me again. I'm sipping coffee and staring at this Mac's calendar, suddenly realising it's already been more than 4 months since the release of "Adamant". I think thank-yous are way overdue so I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge everyone involved in the project as these have been a really amazing four months. Enough nonsense and let's back to business, or the purpose of this text: I (drumroll) proudly present the final 5 re-interpretations from some talented friends. It's an honour for me to have Francesco's techno, David's modular madness, Jake's synthwork and Martin's melodies all in one package, but being both fan and friend of everyone on board I'd be blatantly biased in describing this record's contents. So, since it's 2014, why don't we switch banalities, skip the "description" and "let the music do the talking" (ugh, did I really just write that?)
Thank you all!
PS. Seriously, does anyone read these anymore?
T

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UPC 827170136823 Release: 13.01.2014
2LP tracklist:
A) Adamant, Different Spaces feat. Forrest Ghost, Coil
B) Planetario feat. Mind Against, Behind The Hourglass, Blackened
C) Bitter Reminiscence feat. Clockwork (C/W), Laments feat. Federico Rizzo,Curtains feat. Blue Mountain Club
D) Not Everything is Lost, Mastodon
For over 12 months Thomas Feriero AKA Avatism, our friend and label partner, has been staying at home and working on his album. He moved to Berlin to work on it and now sadly (for us) yet (gladly) for him he is moving back to Milan. Poof! Just Like that. So what did this year entail exactly? Well for some of us not much. We got to see him in his studio comfy pants a couple of times (he wears slippers) we heard his studio woes, ate pasta with him, drank beers and of course got to hear his album at every juncture. While this self-imposed exile may have been a little worrisome the result is fortunately spectacular. Adamant is a glimpse into how a city shapes a life and how intrinsically life then shapes music. It's less than 2 years since his first gig yet in that time he's managed to craft killer EPs on Vakant and Dumb Unit, collaborated with Clockwork & Mind Against (who both make appearances on the album) played diverse shows including SONAR By Night and generally had a really good run at it all. While many would be content simply continuing on this already exciting path, Thomas decided that Adamant was a chance to explore other forms of writing production & collaboration and imposed strict conditions so that Adamant would evolve differently than his earlier works. "I imposed mandates on myself while making it: The tracks (the music, at least) had to be written in a day. "Written", not mixed, arranged or produced, simply "written" and even though I was convinced the album was going into a different/wrong direction approximately 292829 times while making it I decided to follow through on all the musical parts that I developed in these one day cycles." As an artist and friend it is alway inspiring to see something take shape from its single (Logic) cell beginnings to the ornate abstractness where it now resides. It is an album that exudes a depth and immediacy, the restrictions and exile only strengthening Thomas' depth and detailing. The uncertainty, the melancholy, the general studio stink now neatly wrapped into a glittering whole that we're pretty confident the world will enjoy. J.Caufield
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Deset's inaugural release sees the boys perk up with two stunning originals and are back by remixes from none other than two Chi-town legends, Boo Williams and Ricardo Miranda.

Tracklist 12":

A1. : Nu Soul Era
A2 . : Funky Left Funky Right ( Ricardo Miranda Remix )
B1. : Funky Left Funky Right
B2. : Nu Soul Era ( Boo´s space dub remix )

Short Info:
Pietro 'Bingo' De Lisi and Alex Carpentieri aka Italian duo System of Survival, have long been renowned for their raucous live cuts, the likes of which have firmly established their name amongst fans of discerning house and techno. Regulars at Ibiza institution, Circoloco at DC10, the boys knack for a tune has also brought them to the attention of respected label outlets such as Bpitch Control, Freak n'Chic, Moodmusic, Rawax and Get Physical. However, their latest release - released here via the emerging Deset Music - might just be their best yet. The label's inaugural release sees the boys perk up with two stunning originals and are back by remixes from none other than two Chi-town legends, Boo Williams and Ricardo Miranda.
Opening up the sounds of the release is 'Nu Soul Era'. A raucous, deep cut that displays all that's excellent about System of Survival, this one goes firmly down the rabbit hole in search of kicks. Characterised by its quite brilliant and catchy baseline, the action is dark and trippy throughout, with a firm emphasis placed on a groove that never lets its guard down throughout. A majestic start to the EP, it gets us underway with some distinction.
System of Survival's other original is 'Funky Left Funky Right'. Again, the duo expertly showcase their penchant for melodic structures, this time via a bleepy baseline that's perfectly suited to peak-time floors. Ricardo Miranda's interpretation goes deep and off-kilter, but remains true to the original's full-on characteristics. A stunning indication of the producer's eclecticism and studio mastery, it's an intoxicating take on a track that's never lacking in suspense.

Seeing us out the door is Boo Williams' remix of 'Nu Soul Era'. The 'Mortal Trance' producer can always be relied on to bring the heat in his own inimitable way, and he does so here with the sort of panache for which he's best renowned. Injecting the original with every more bounce, he wastes no time in getting down to business, setting his stall out via an acid-led, 909-flavoured remix that offers up a tantalising version of what's arrived before. An all-round stunning EP of various shapes and sizes, there's plenty here for fans of discerning house and techno to get stuck into on this one.


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Santiago Salazar, ladies and gentlemen! Member of Underground Resistance, producer of Los Hermanos, recording artist for Planet E. A biography made in heaven. Macro pulls the most incredible people these days and there's a method to the madness: "Arcade" immediately shows why Santiago is known to be one of Detroit's most forward thinking producers and DJs. The chords! The hook! The synths! The drums! Finally an anthem that's 0% retro and 100% euphoria. Leaving the recent fashions behind, "Arcade" spreads all the warmth and enthusiasm one could dream of this year. This is 2009!

And if this wasn't enough: Hot on the heels of "Art Of Sorrow", man of the moment Stefan Goldmann does his first remix for Macro! His stunning version is a 15 minute monster. Not just a jam, but a fully composed journey from deep reverberation to drum machine fueled peaks to a japanese flute and koto workout. Depth on a new level. This is the difference this label makes - others do ambient, cosmic or krautrock. Macro does the thrilling stuff.



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12” vinyl with full cover print

TRACKLIST:

A1 Endless Love feat. Theo Nasa
A2 Endless Love feat. Theo Nasa (Hardspace Mix)

B1 Gunz Blazin
B2 Stabbed In The Heart

all tracks figured out by Vinicius Honorio.
vocals on Endless Love by Theo Nasa.
2024 copyright figure

INFO:

Adding his first EP to the label’s catalogue, Figure warmly welcomes Vinicius Honorio onto the roster.
Having first made his mark in the DnB-world as BTK, the vetted Brazilian producer now has been conquering the global techno scene for some years as well. His darkly foreboding sound is on full display across this 12“, featuring three clean-cut, impactful original productions and a remix by Len Faki’s Hardspace moniker.

Endless Love comes punching strong, carried by colleague Theo Nasa’s ominous spoken words and evolving stab synths textures. The remix strips back the vocals in favor of reduced frequencies, keeping the heat condensed and always ready to boil over.
On the flip, Honorio introduces his rolling high-energy machine funk, stacking elements around a hypnotic vocal loop and expertly playing the game of build and release. Closer B2 showcases a different style, using subdued dubby chords to craft a dreamy ride that is at once powerful and deep.


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LP Full-colour artwork with double-sided insert

Tracklist


A1. Combine
A2. Delinquent Dreams
A3. Toteninsel
A4. Recurring Horrors
B1. Frost
B2. No Man's Land
B3. Blue Hours


Shortinfo:

Shortinfo:

Christoph de Babalon has relished the two years since his last full-length outing for A Colourful Storm, crossing paths with a new guard of prodigies while maintaining ties with a legion of disciples. Aphex Twin, his old foe, even played "Realistic Riot Ritual Routine" at the now-infamous Warehouse Project set, smashing it to bits and pieces over "Polynomial-C". Recurring Horrors dives deep into de Babalon's DAT archive, dragging out ghosts while pressing the jaw-dropping, nine-minute breakcore epic, "No Man's Land" to vinyl for the first time. Unmissable smut.

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Format: Vinyl 2LP (Limited Full Cover)

Track list :

A1 The entrance
A2 Not so different (ft. LYMA)
A3 City of all
A4 Sonder
B1 Gonna getya
B2 Orbit
B3 Looking up (ft. Allysha Joy)
C1 Feel the same
C2 Roselane (ft. Fouk)
C3 Returning
D1 Humming harmonies (ft. LYMA)
D2 Bent with funk
D3 Encounters

Release Info:
Makèz have come a long way since they first sneaked into Amsterdam’s studio 80 at the age of 17 to hand over their demos to Dam Swindle. Those demos led to their debut EP ‘Different planets’ on Heist in 2019 which gained major support from artists like Seth Troxler and Chez Damier. Quickly after, they signed two records on New York based label Let’s Play House. Fast forward two years, and here we are: the release of their debut album “City of all”.

"City of all” shows an admirable level of sophistication and matureness and effortlessly bridges genres across its 13 tracks. You can feel the amount of thought that has been put into this record, with songs happily blending into each other as Makèz submerge themselves in their concept of accidental encounters, inclusiveness and what it means to live in a city like Amsterdam.

On “City of all”, Makèz bring together all the musical influences they’ve picked up in their life as music fans, clubbers and art students. The jazz-funk of opening track “The entrance” feels breezy, casual almost, like the freeform rhythms that are played in a jazz club during soundcheck. That energy also oozes from “Not so different”, which features the smooth vocals of LYMA. There’s a hint of the house-meets-R’n B vibe that made Anderson .Paak the star that he is now. The song is brilliantly funky and shows the songwriting and arrangement talent of Makèz, who cleverly use pop & soul cues to create one of the album’s highlights.

What follows is 4 cuts ranging from the syncopated Balearic funk of “Orbit”, the strings of album title track “City of all”, the organ-led jam “Gonna getya" and the downbeat “Sonder”. Allysha Joy -best known for performing in Melbourne Hip Hop collective 30/70 - is featured on the deep and jazzy cut “Looking up”. If Makèz and Allysha are all looking up, it’s clear they’re seeing the same thing. These kindred spirits perfectly complement each other on this track, where the deep bass, warm harmonies and jazzy percussion prove to be a perfect foundation for Allysha’s rhymes.

Is it an album all about jazz and soulful tracks to listen to at home? Far from that. There’s a nice bit of dance floor-oriented tracks, where the distorted filter funk of “Roselane” featuring Fouk proves to be a highlight along with what is arguably the heaviest cut of the album: “Bent with funk”.

In an EP context, these house tracks would surely do their work, but they really come to life in this album format. No compromise has been made to storytelling and the house tracks all play their part while still standing their ground as powerful club tracks. It’s the expert production and smart arrangement that gives this album its casually funky feel. On “City of all”, Makèz showcase their remarkable talent for writing an album that goes to so many different places, but most of all, just really feels like home.

Enjoy the music,
Maarten & Lars
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GENRE/S:
Disco, Space disco

TRACKLISTS:
A1 Love Attack
A2 Dream Machine
B1 Never Gonna Let You Go
B2 San Fran Jubilee

SHORT INFO:

NeighbourSoul Rhythms ain't playing around with this one. The third installment of its acclaimed NeighbourSoul Edits ranges from space disco to funk, and it's guaranteed to get your booty shaking on the dancefloor! This fourth release to date is all about the disco vibes, and Mark Gursane delivers the goods. If you're a fan of Felipe Gordon, Rahaan, or Jacques Renault, you already know what's up. “NeighbourSoul Edits Vol.3” is a fourth track banger focused on one thing and one thing only - making you dance. These four disco-funk cuts are tailor-made for the club, and they're sure to get the party started.


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Packaging: 350GSM color sleeve
Color Vinyl 1: Orange
Color Vinyl 2: Grey

14 Exclusive tracks

Tracklist
A1. Marc Melià – Permanent Waves (04:26)
A2. Pletnev – Marc O’Polo (06:31)
A3. Douglas Greed – Vancouver (04:11)
A4. Middle Sky Boom – Missing Drive (05:13)
B1. Thomass Jackson – Mithra (07:07)
B2. Goldmoon - Bells (04:08)
B3. Krikor – Sally Hardesty (05:34)
C1. Morgan Blanc – Werde Der Du Bist (04:52)
C2. Cora Novoa – Virtual Aesthetics (04:35)
C3. NSDOS – AL-G (05:43)
C4. Rebeka Warrior – Ich Komme Zurück (04:49)
D1. Theus Mago – Idealistic Stone (07:33)
D2. The Populists – Prehistoric Lemurs (05:19)
D3. Acid Love Triangle – Instant Track (06:42)


Key Selling Points
Back in 2018, Lumière Noire celebrated its first anniversary with a compilation featuring thirteen exclusive tracks by an eclectic group of electronic musicians – a family portrait of sorts. A few months later, a second volume of From Above, compiled by the label's artistic director (and DJ) Chloé, once more brings thirteen established acts together with promising upstarts. The first compilation was the embodiment of the label policy advocating for both artistic excellence and a widening of electronic aesthetics – bopping from deviant house music to adventurous IDM and to the rigor of dancefloor techno, among other electronic explorations. Some of the artists featured are now closely associated with Lumière Noire, while others were more established performers such as Benedikt Frey, Lauer, Jonathan Fitoussi, Il Est Vilaine, Dave e Brun (half of Swayzak) and Frank Agrario, as well as upcoming artists such as C O N T R A (a side project by none other than Iñigo Vontier), Sutja Gutierrez, Théo Muller, Markus Gibb, Bajram Bili, and a sprinkling of UFOs circling the genre (Suuns' Ben Shemie, Drvg Cvltvre, and electro-acoustic combo Lumi). This group photo laid down a number of paths for a label in perpetual evolution.

Since then, the Parisian entity has continued to grow within the international electronic scene, releasing Local Suicide's Leopard Gum EP, Iñigo Vontier's first LP, and planning another slew of releases for 2020. The lineup for this second volume of From Above is once again equally intriguing, offering a crescendo-like track listing over a double LP format, which is a feat of sorts for a "Various Artists" compilation.

Marc Mélias' fascinating, unsettling Permanent Waves gets the proceedings going with a contemplative track that provides a serene opening to the odyssey on which From Above will be taking the listener. Pletnev continues on with the playful, hooky Marco O’Polo, a fundamentally techno track built over a seductive 90s-inspired breakbeat. Douglas Greed (whom Chloé remixed on BPitch a few years back, and had himself remixed track from her album Endless Revisions featuring Ben Shemie’s vocals), supplies Vancouver, a slice of ambiance à la Boards of Canada, supported by a gripping breakbeat. The rhythmic arpeggio of Israeli producer's Middle Sky Bloom makes his contribution a hypnotic, disconcerting slice of dark disco. Thomass Jackson, a safe bet in the new wave of the Latin-American electronic music blowing its sometimes hot, sometimes cold wind, proposes Mithra, a dancefloor incantation to the Antiquity's bull god. With Bells, Goldmoon delivers a track that is both melodic and nostalgic, tinged with rhythmic samples, Moog basses and solar backgrounds. Longtime friend of Chloé, Krikor, who has released two albums on L.I.E.S. Records (Pacific Alley and Saudi), offers a moment of respite with Sally Hardesty (a nod to fans of horror movies), a heavenly and bewitching track that, paradoxically, hints at the highly energetic second half of the compilation. Discovered with Confidences EP released on Lumière Noire, the young French producer Morgan Blanc asserts himself here with Werde Der Du Bist ("Become who you are"), a song with luminous chords and midtempo rhythms to start the second half of the compilation by raising the tension. Galician producer, DJ and designer Cora Novoa continues the rollercoaster's ascent with her Virtual Aesthetics, which once again brings those acid tones – this time without the vertigo. Equally corrosive, but tenser and more percussive, the uncategorizable NSDOS' AL-G attempts to give order to a chaotic electronic world full of violence and danger. Rebeka Warrior (half of the duo Kompromat alongside compatriot Vitalic), takes on a more nostalgic vibe with Ich Komme Zurück, a French/German techno chant evoking a secret dream of a track from a bygone era. Three years after the release by Lumière Noire of Moderna and Theus Mago's stroboscopic Dog Is Calling You, Theus Mago makes a solo comeback with Idealistic Stone, a most acid of club tracks, rattled by the modulations of the inevitable TB 303. French electro-rock saltwarth Yan Wagner's dancefloor alter ego The Populists' Prehistoric Lemurs gives an almost Orientalizing twist to Kraftwerk's techno-pop. To close things off, the collection's last track, the appropriately-named Instant Track by impromptu encounter between Hervé Carvalho (Acid Arab), Jacques Bon (Smallville) and Demian (Kompakt) Acid Love Triangle, releases the pressure with a long, bittersweet reverie that leaves the listener, at the end of these thirteen musical adventures, to rest languorously on an artificial and welcoming shore.


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Tracklist

A1 - KiNK - Wake Up
A2 - KiNK - Beep Beep

B1 - KiNK feat. Redeye - Room To Jack
B2 - Raredub & KiNK - Scrambler

KiNK's first release on Sofia Records this year lives up to its title and its creator's reputation. The relentless energy, love of musical adventure and undamped enthusiasm of a KiNK live set can be found here in all its glory.

Wake Up is not only an instruction and a hidden compliment to Laurent Garnier, it's also evidence of the Bulgarians uncanny ability to deliver steamrollers with various twists and turns, while hitting the peak effortlessly.
Beep Beep adds a certain element of mania to the menu. For the lack of a better description, please imagine Mr. Oizo and Steve Poindexter making a record together. Not for the faint at heart.
That can be said for the rest of the EP as well. Featuring Redeye, Room To Jack is on the same level of Beep Beep. Traditional topics of Chicago House get a bench test on a speed farm.
Dancing to Scrambler one would probably need the same room to jack. Swapping the Windy City with British raving fields, KiNK and Raredub deliver a take on the early sound of UK that might miss breakbeats, but manage to re-use all the other ingredients to a hair: fine-tuned and updated. Quotation without modern misinterpretation. Hyper and epic at the same time. And always remember the future!



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Tracklist:
a1.Erickson On Acid (Original)
a2. Erickson On Acid (Roman Poncet Remix)


b1.Erickson On Acid (UmweltRemix)
b2. Erickson On Acid (Zadig Remix)





Short Info:

Belgian techno wizard Cri Du Coeur is back with a new 2-part vinyl release on his label Arkham Audio titled 'Erickson' & 'Erickson on Acid', which features remixes exclusively from French artists. Jerome D., the man behind the Cri Du Coeur alias, is prized in the industry for giving platforms to Belgian and French artists throughout his career, so it comes as no surprise that he is showing his francophile roots by having a solely French lineup for the remixes on this release. Following the recent release of his EPs 'Diaphragm' and 'Warning', and now bringing us the inebriating 'Erickson' & 'Erickson on Acid', Cri Du Coeur has established that his new alias and freshly-founded but tenacious Arkham Audio label are a force to be reckoned with. The entrancing yet adrenalizing sound that he has adopted shows that his approach to industrial electronic music knows no boundaries or compromises.

The first part of this release features the original mix of 'Erickson' by Cri Du Coeur and remixes of the track by Electric Rescue, [ Wex 10 ], and Trunkline. The second part 'Erickson on Acid' puts a squelching acid twist on things and features remixes by Roman Poncet, Umwelt, and Zadig.

The original mix of 'Erickson' leads with a strong beat and a mixture of industrial sounds that makes for a sublime dark dancefloor track. Electric Rescue follows on with a remix that engages the listener with a terrorising yet intoxicating heavy baseline. Next up is [ Wex 10 ] who enchants us with a bouncy laserbeam rhythm and muffled looping vocals. Last but not least on the 'Erickson' lineup is Trunkline's remix which delivers an addictive hazy melody and a deep and dirty mechanical synth horn.

Cri Du Coeur plays with tensions in 'Erickson (on Acid)', putting the listener into a state of hypnosis with squelching sounds that give the song a raunchy character. We are implored to dance as Roman Poncet's remix bears layers of lively percussion beats with twangy synth melodies. The mood intensifies once more as Umwelt's remix features a dark and fuzzy baseline that contrasts with a screeching siren sound creating an ultimate thrilling experience for the listener. Zadig closes off this immense concoction of remixes with a relentless distorted base and scintillating machinelike background noises.

Cri Du Coeur has outdone himself by bringing together such a well-suited selection of artists to create a visceral and magnetizing collection of tracks that showcases his competence in making industrial techno. You can look forward to both 'Erickson ' & 'Erickson on Acid' being released simultaneously in digital form and on vinyl on the 24th July.
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You may know Aretha Franklin's scintillating "One Step Ahead" from its vital role in the Oscar-winning movie Moonlight. You may also know it as providing the beautifully melancholic backdrop for Mos Def's 1999 hit "Ms Fat Booty". The inaugural Be With 7" is a special one indeed, containing the first ever officially licensed reissue of Aretha's all-time deep soul classic. "One Step Ahead" was not included on any of her Columbia studio albums, and remains one of her rarest releases. On the flip, "I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face" is a thrilling, goosebump-inducing killer and an unfairly slept-on rendition of this eternal track. The single comes housed in a custom printed full-colour company sleeve and is limited to just 1000 copies. More

Tracklist:
A1. Love Runaway ft Tamara Lee
A2. Crimped Hair
B1. Love Runaway ft Tamara Lee (Ray Mang Remix)
B2. Love Runaway ft Tamara Lee (Ray Mang Reprise)


Key Selling Points
California-based label Ritual Release introduce new & as-yet unknown duo Guruku. Love Runaway is their debut EP and comes with remixes by disco don Ray Mang.
Title track ‘Love Runaway’ features criminally underheard Tamara Lee on vocals and co-writing duties. LA funk/R&B/future twang auteur Harriet Brown (Innovative Leisure, Phantom Island, World Building) provides guest vocals on the EP’s second original track, ‘Crimped Hair’.
On the flip, Ray Mang delivers a masterclass in honing ‘Love Runaway’ for peak dancefloor effect in a choice of extended remix or dubby reprise.
“Absolutely essential release. A really good song is turned into a modern disco monster by Ray Mang, channeling Prelude Records circa 1982.” – Bill Brewster (DJ History, UK)

GENRE: Boogie, Disco, Funk
FOR FANS OF: Maurice Fulton, The Vision, Dreamcast, Star Creature
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