After a short hiatus Phonica Records revives its deep-house focused Karakul imprint for Harry Wolfman's new 12" 'The Ritual'!
Having produced a dozen 12's for labels such as Dirt Crew, Omena and Outplay, Harry has been honing his craft for the best part of a decade and you can hear how his sound has refined over the past few releases, reaching new heights with this latest record for Karakul.
'SMBC' kicks the 12" off in a laid-back style with its woodwind and brass samples complimenting bright pads and drums, reminiscent of MCDE, while the mellow and sultry 'Eva' is up next.
On the flip 'Obi 1' takes things up a notch both in tempo and energy, working around a lo-fi drum loop and cunningly filtered bassline.
Strings come to the fore halfway through making this a real uplifting gem, the mixture of instrumentation bringing to mind early Pepe Bradock.
Finally 'The Ritual' rounds out the record in a mesmerising way, slowly introducing more and more elements and stirring the pot before fading out again.
An original and fitting way to end the record.

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Harry Wolfman makes his Omena debut with '37 Degrees', a four track EP, containing loose, warm, and dreamy tracks. More

Harry Wolfman returns to UK imprint House of Disco for his second solo EP with the label. This time exploring more cosmic realms as he draws inspiration from his favourite science fiction writer. 3 original tracks to slow-dance in space to. Limited to 500 with the full colour sleeve More

Fouk might have been curating Outplay since 2013, but their 'Butterfunk EP' is in fact the duo's first proper EP on their own imprint. It's not that they've been resting on their laurels: they've drip-fed a handful of EPs on the likes of Heist and House of Disco over the past few years, and released solo efforts on Kolour Ltd and Razor 'n Tape that stormed the charts. It's been fascinating to see the Dutch pair slowly break the mould, moving from heavy sampling in favour to an emphasis on original instrumentation and production. The Butterfunk EP is fine showcase of their prowess in the studio, loaded to the hilt with contemporary dancefloor funk. Things kick off with the rolling drums, off-beat percussion and seriously infectious Hammond lines of Organ Freeman. Title track Butterfunk is aimed squarely at the hips with its smooth keys and perfectly placed vocal, while some acid lines give the track a little edge. Flip over for the bumping 'Wong Way', a chunky workout with a rubber bassline. The finale of the EP is 'Winter', a fantastic slice of 80's inspired downtempo mushroom jazz. More

Outplay's newest project is a special 10" vinyl release with 2 tracks by artist New Franklin Theory. The name was inspired by a past in Midwestern USA. As to who is behind the project, some ears might pick up the resemblance to another artist you all know well. Digging into his past is the main inspiration behind New Franklin Theory's two-tracker. Expect two uptempo percussion filled melodic tracks with a slight afro-inspired tropical vibe.
Comes with a full colour sleeve design by joosprintsandpatterns.nl! More

Oliver Dollar launches his ‘Contemporary’ series on Rekids and links with ADMN and Austin Ato.

For the first track on the ‘Contemporary Part One’ EP on Rekids, Oliver Dollar joins forces with studio wizard ADMN, a musician, TV Lounge resident, Infolines label owner, and affiliate of Carl Craig's Planet E, among many more top labels. Their brilliant 'Before You' featuring Apropos is a soul-drenched house cut with a classic vibe and an irresistible sense of soul thanks to its smooth vocals. The warm synths light up the loose-limbed groove and ensure a good time.

Oliver Dollar and versatile Scottish producer Austin Ato then serve up 'Portamento Track' for the ‘Contemporary Part One’ EP, an uplifting house gem with serene strings adding a touch of class to the impassioned vocal and disco-tinged groove. Last but not least, Detroit mainstay and Michigander label head Brian Kage remixes Oliver Dollar's 'Strings 4 Life', a track from Dollar’s previous EP on Rekids of the same name and which won the support of Paul Woolford, Honey Dijon, Nightmares On Wax and many more. Kage turns the track into a signature slice of
Motor City house soul with swooning pads and hip-swinging drums that are aged to perfection.

Berlin-based house connoisseur Oliver Dollar is known for his variety. He explores the genre via deep, soulful, and jacking cuts, constantly innovating on his signature style with plenty of underground hits produced on the likes of Defected, Classic Music, and his own Industry Standard label. More

Having already forged a scene-shifting career as a DJ, producer, remixer and collaborator, it was only in 2013 that Erol Alkan released a debut EP, 'Illumination' on his label Phantasy. Its shimmering opener was 'A Hold On Love', the soaring, glossy chords that have remained a staple in Alkan's DJ sets in the decade since.

Upon its tenth anniversary, Alkan presents two subtle but hugely effective reworks that transport one of the London producer's most enduring tracks onto contrasting dance floors.

The '(dyna-mix)' finds canyons of heady dub and psychedelia among halcyon chords, first means tested on wide-eyed crowds at Houghton Festival and throughout Alkan's ongoing 'To The Rhythm' all-nighters. Meanwhile, the '(trip-mix)' subtly lifts the energy for a pacier take, rich in reverie yet without sacrificing the detail and musicality always at the centre of Alkan's still fertile blend of house, electro, techno and alternative sensibilities.

The two tracks are available pressed onto extremely limited edition vinyl featuring manually screen printed sleeves, hand numbered by Erol himself. 300 copies only. More

Hybrid sounds are offered up by Sunderland born producer Dharma on his Lone Romantic debut. His ‘Clear Glass’ EP lands on Maceo Plex’s left of centre imprint, offering up four tracks of futuristic garage and electro-tinged sounds.

Having previously released on esteemed labels such as R&S Records, Man Power’s Me Me Me imprint and Permanent Vacation, Dharma readies a bustling EP for Lone Romantic that showcases the young producer’s deft capabilities at working through various shades and rhythms with ease.

From the shuffling beats and choppy vox of EP opener ‘Clear Glass’, to the low-slung hip hop meets IDM influences of ‘Work Over’, Dharma serves up a highly accomplished release that effortlessly traverses genres.

‘Clear Glass’ EP by Dharma is available on Lone Romantic from 26th April 2024. More

Ultraorthodox and Bjarki set out to push the boundaries of ectoplasmic research, aiming to secure an augmented paranormal research budget from the Icelandic government and explore the ethereal through a fusion of sound and ectoplasmic exploration.

Can sound unlock the veiled secrets within ectoplasmic mysteries? Is it a portal to realms beyond our comprehension?

Unfortunately, the project met an untimely end. But fear not, for in the face of failure, there's still music to enjoy! More

Stone cold year 2000 Detroit Techno classic from Burden Bros More

Jimpster dons his Franc Spangler cap and joins forces with up and coming London-based producer and DJ Hudson’s Choice for a four track EP entitled Myatts Field. Touching on trippy slo-mo electronic grooves, tropical moods and percussive house jams it brings a more experimental and left field sound to Delusions Of Grandeur which we’re sure you’re going to love!

Opening track AcidMan sets the tone of the EP with a bubbling 303 line taking centre stage while pitched down vocals add a hint of menace, heightening the psychedelic mood. Dubby FX and analogue synth lines drift in and out of focus and give a live jam feel to the arrangement reminding us of something that might grace the decks of A Love From Outer Space. Heavily Percussed continues offering up a crazy percussion tool loaded with wonky cross rhythms, glitchy found sounds and a hypnotic synth sequence for good measure.
Flip over for Myatts Field, another slower tempo mutant discoid house groove which takes us on a deep trip into the jungle. Echoing sax and hazy vocals transport us to another world where Weather Report experimented with rolling four on the floor grooves and spacious dub.

Closing out the EP Roots picks up the pace with another percussion-heavy slice of tropical sounds which doffs a cap to masters such as Gregory and Osunlade. Steel pan melodic lines intersperse with chiming synth sequences making for an unusual yet hooky club track which will lock the dancers into its incessant groove. More

New school Italian techno sensation Alignment is back with a third thrilling EP for on Charlotte de Witte’s KNTXT label that once again stands him apart. Alignment's previous outings on the label - the Time EP in April 2020, then his Nothingness EP in November 2020 - made huge impacts. They are standout techno offerings from a young and exciting artist who has quickly risen to the top. He has remained hugely busy in the last 12 months with a wide-ranging sound that takes in everything from old school bangers to trance-tinged rollers via futuristic workouts. Says label boss Charlotte de Witte, "Alignment's music has been strongly represented in all my livestreams of 2020 and 2021 and I honestly can't wait to finally bring his music and his latest creations on Power EP to the dancefloor. It's made to make you move and I'm very happy to have him on board once again!“ The artist himself adds, "The vibes we shared pre-pandemic on our beloved dance-floors inspired me a lot to create Power EP. I tried to focus on effective and highly energetic, peak-time techno weapons for KNTX011. Signature synths, big stabs and kicks following only one formula - no compromise and four to the floor.” First up is Power, a high octane track with hard drums, slamming bass and bright synths that cannot fail to get hands in the air. The excellent 'Disconnection' has laser-like synths shooting across the face of the track while big, edgy trance stabs light up the barreling drums from way up above. 'Frequency' is another trance-influenced track that brings peak time energy to stomping and distorted drums. It is an emotive rollercoaster that never lets up and will make a mark on even the biggest dance floors. Last of all is 'Radioactivity' which has scuffed metal textures, crashing drums and strobe-lit synth lines that will turn every party into a rave. This is another all-out techno assault of the highest order from one of the best in the game. More

Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels imprint announces, ‘Portrait of the Obscure’, the stunning new album from Oceanvs Orientalis.

Following three superb singles on the label across the past four months, the nine-track LP offers a comprehensive exploration of the Instanbul-based talent’s rich, globally-infused and captivating sound, with the project set for release on 26th April 2024.

Safak Oz Kutle, known as Oceanvs Orientalis, is a producer and live performer based in Istanbul. His musical style intricately weaves together diverse sonic tapestries of wide-spanning genres and cultures, and through his creative fusion of these influences, he crafts an immersive world that takes you far away from the usual club music references. His music serves as a celebration of his musical heritage, and this has never been truer than on his superb new album ‘Portrait of the Obscure’, which again pushes traditional boundaries within the electronic sphere. Set for release on 26th April via Damian Lazarus’ renowned and celebrated Crosstown Rebels imprint, the nine-track LP project features a showcase of solo and collaborative material alongside close friends such as Tooker, Idil Mese and Tilahun Gessesse, delivering a journey into the creative mind of one of
the scene’s most intriguing talents.

The bold and riveting project kicks off with the captivating synthscapes, fluttering strings and plucked bass of the gorgeous ‘Pulse Antique’, before ‘Ministry Of Midnight’ cuts loose on more jumbled rhythms and intricate organic lines warmed with wordless vocals. Next up are two of the lead
singles - the tense and intricate house sonics of ‘Neutrality’ and the haunting atmospheres and ethereal synth lines of ‘IL Lupo’ featuring Tooker, while ‘Conritmo’ continues to bring exotic new string sounds, leftfield melodies and warped bass to this most vibrant exploration of candle-lit house sounds. ‘Soul of Calypso’ blisses out on far-sighted cosmic chords with sonorous bells and late-night spoken word musings that add all-new character to the innovative grooves. Then comes the laid-back, jazz-infused house of ‘Heart Pieces’ feat. Idil Mese, a deep and jazzy jungle shuffler
in ‘Mercury’ and the playful horns and lumpy, dub-wise swagger of ‘Lanchi Biye’.

An album project encompassing its title perfectly, ‘Portrait of the Obscure’ is just that - a magnificent snapshot of the unique musical mind of Oceanvs Orientalis. More

Repress!

“Music is a weapon of the future.”
“Music is the weapon of the progressives.”
“Music is the weapon of the givers of life.”

These are the words of legendary Nigerian musician and activist Fela Kuti, words that remain as true as ever over two decades since his untimely death. A pioneer of the Nigerian revolution, his fight against police oppression remains an ongoing conversation in the country. Now, Defected pays tribute to the vital work of Fela with a special 12” release, as Armonica and MoBlack revisit Fela Kuti’s ‘International Thief Thief (I T. T.)’ as the fight against systemic corruption continues to be a pressing issue in Nigeria. The A-Side features Armonica & MoBlack’s flawlessly executed and ever respectful remix of the record where Fela called out and directly attacked former Nigerian president General Obasanjo and Moshood Abjola, the CEO of Nigeria’s biggest national telecommunications conglomerate I.T.T and Decca Records. Their homage to Fela brings a powerful and culturally relevant piece of music to the forefront of dance culture in 2020.

On the reverse side is ‘Chagu’, where a powerful and evocative spoken word narration is provided by South Sudanese-Canadian artist, actor, former child soldier and political activist Emmanuel Jal. A collaboration between Emmanuel, MoBlack and Henrik Schwarz, both producers provide their own version of ‘Chagu’, with MoBlack opting for a classic afro-house beat and hypnotic percussion, while Henrik’s signature crisp, harmonious composition makes for a guaranteed dancefloor weapon. Both visionary producers, Henrik and MoBlack’s versions are equally impactful, complementing the immediacy of Emmanuel’s lyrics.
TRACK LISTING: A1. Fela Kuti - International Thief Thief (I.T.T.) (Armonica & MoBlack Extended Mix), A2. Fela Kuti - International Thief Thief (I.T.T.) (Armonica & MoBlack Extended Dub), AA1. MoBlack, Emmanuel Jal & Henrik Schwarz - Chagu (Henrik Schwarz Extended Version), AA2. MoBlack, Emmanuel Jal & Henrik Schwarz - Chagu (MoBlack Extended Version) More