Beautiful cinematic electronix on this full length album by Lord Of The Isles inspired by the beauty of the islands of Scotland. Neil McDonald's love of the outdoors is a constant feature in his music, hence his Lord Of The Isles moniker, a direct reference to the Highlands and islands of his native Scotland. His vivid, effervescent and blissfully cinematic sound paints a soundtrack to unmade films, building imaginary worlds inspired by his childhood passion for science fiction. It is therefore no coincidence that the closing track 'Subtle Thoughts' samples the inimitable voice of Carl Sagan and is also the name of his forthcoming album on Lapsus Records. Subtle Thoughts' is an album of sumptuous melancholic electronica that, like all his previous works, avoids being pigeonholed. In it we find ambient and IDM, but also breaks and down-tempo 4x4 beats with deep ruminations, and even passages akin to new age and Balearic. In Neil's own words, the real concept behind 'Subtle Thoughts' is "The spaces in between. Listening to the quiet voices. Freedom of expression and being open. It also contains my hopes and fears for the future of our world, but mainly hope and love". Subtle Thoughts' will be released on 8 December with two advance singles: 'Open Mode' accompanying the album launch on 7 October; followed by 'Return to Yourself' on 4 November. More

'Night Of The Endless Beyond', the sophomore album by Lord Of The Isles AKA Neil McDonald for the ESP Institute, had almost become a mythical piece of work. The tracks very slowly crept into formation from the lowest depths of 2021, and once the completed album finally made the leap from creation into manufacturing, an entirely new onslaught of follies and delays awaited at the pressing plant. We began to laugh, for not only did Mario Hugo’s otherworldly sleeve artwork visually translate this music so well, but it was an uncanny premonition to the album being lost in space, falling through a black hole, evaporating into the aether like a dream that never really happened. But, at long last, ground control has confirmed contact! It did happen, it will arrive, and it’s not a myth. Listening to 'Night Of The Endless Beyond' now feels like the return of a strayed friend, one whose distance left us pining for an embrace. Although this Techno relies on unassuming means, there is a remarkably complex and persuasive emotional statement embedded here, insisting we learn to endure the long game and allow ourselves patience to investigate and appreciate the minutiae contained not only within the notes, but their negative space. From its introduction, through its mellow crests and valleys, there is a conveyance of restraint — subtle dynamics that quietly beg for attention, repetition so hypnotic that imaginary melodies are inescapable, transient peaks so deliberately scaled that we mourn the subsequent decay. In accordance with Neil’s ESP debut, 'In Waves', we never feel attacked by instrumentation but shielded from sharp edges, able to step inside the music, breathe the air it occupies and know its true intentions, whether bright or bleak.
Just prior to the album close, a film dialogue excerpt summarizes everything quite honestly by proposing, “The truth of the universe is waiting … the truth of what is … it’s all going to go away … everything … into blackness … the void … and nobody is in charge.” “…and what do you do with that?” We stare long into the 'Night Of The Endless Beyond' and answer… “You smile.” More

New record label set up by Lord Of The Isles. Inspired by the long summer nights of the northern hemisphere. Known as the ‘Gloamin’ in old Scots language. When the edges blur and colours become a white pink haze, the possibilities can seem endless. Melancholic thoughts of the past inspire unbridled optimism for the future. The unexpected is expected between sunset and the fall of night.

The first expansive motif laid down for the new Dusk Delay imprint is the Geoglyph EP by Lord Of The Isles himself. Clocking in at 39 mins across 5 tracks; It expertly fuses rare vintage instruments and effects with ultra-modern production techniques. Side A sees state of the art sequencers lead the antique machines on a merry dance through dub techno excursions and ambient jungle soundscapes. Side B utilises a more traditional approach, however, the results are no less beautiful or otherworldly. The creative inspiration here is the same - vintage meets modern - but this time it’s created using live improvisations woven into coherent arrangements to terraform a similar fictional landscape of sound that belongs to the same galaxy as side A.

Available in all formats 26 April 2021 – includes a limited-edition marble vinyl release with postcard. More

The third installment on the Lord Of The Isles DFSANT series. More

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Our man Neil aka Lord of the Isles drops another face-melter for his recently birthed label Dfsant. Don't ask us what that means by the way, we have no idea. Here on the second 12". the laird treats to a further three tracks of sublime techno / house hybrids: the opener "Synth Plus" is a kosmiche throbber with a lick of motor city melodrama, whilst "To Here" comes on like a decidedly less shit-scary Black Merlin, and to close things out we have a slo-mo acid disco cut in the form of "Heyta Hota". Real nice stuff folks.



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DSFANT is a new label from Lord of the Isles More

McDonald’s long-standing relationship with Firecracker boss Lindsay Todd – dating back a decade to their joint residency in Edinburgh – has seen Lord Of The Isles records appear on both UNTHANK and Shevchenko, whilst he also contributed to the Scotch and field recording shenanigans of last year’s Mac-talla Nan Creag album. Now, McDonald will now graduate to the main Firecracker label for a full Lord Of The Isles debut due in December under the name Parabolas Of Neon. Taking shape as a six-track 12'', the record features glacial techno and downtempo, cinematic melancholia; a fitting tribute to peaks conquered, whisky-drenched travelogues, warehouse parties, long drives and fried afters.

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Lord Of The Isles, a.k.a. Neil McDonald, has spent the better part of a decade steadily producing and releasing beautiful music.The ESP Institute has always wholeheartedly believed in Neil’s work ethic and his journey as an artist who constantly refines his vision, and when we inevitably approached in hopes of working together, we were enamoured by the sheer breadth and depth of work he had 'in progress’. There are two types of artists. One internalises their process, endlessly perfecting their work while finding the endpoint a massive hurdle, in turn they produce immaculate yet very little art.The other is continuously inspired, so full of ideas they can barely work fast enough to articulate them all.The art becomes by-product of their larger trajectory and not just a collection of endpoints. Lord Of The Isles seems to be both, always in an evolving state of process where the work is constantly shed to make way for the new layer growing beneath, yet he holds his cards closely, cherry picking when and with whom he releases his art into the world. Neil is simply prolific. He shared with us a vast catalog of unheard beauty, which over a long span of time was collaboratively shaped into his debut album “In Waves”.The title speaks to Neil’s process both intimately and from afar, it speaks to the emotional ebb and flow of the music itself, and ultimately it speaks to the listener. This album will gift you with something new upon every listen, a concept that is
also gracefully interpreted into the album’s artwork by New York City artist, Hassan Rahim.The visceral aesthetic Neil portrays throughout these 15 songs is most certainly a landscape, an assemblage of intimate stories that, as a whole, give us this wider view of his intense drive, his multi-faceted quiver of skill, and his ultimate obsession... beauty. More

Lord Of The Isles, a.k.a. Neil McDonald, has spent the better part of a decade steadily producing and releasing beautiful music. The ESP Institute has always wholeheartedly believed in Neil’s work ethic and his journey as an artist who constantly refines his vision, and when we inevitably approached in hopes of working together, we were enamoured by the sheer breadth and depth of work he had 'in progress’.Ahead of the album’s release, we are proud to share with you the single ‘Weh-In’, a mesmerizing arpeggio melody that opens and closes, purrs and barks, and plays nicely with its percussive accompaniment over more than 10 minutes. This lengthy single version of the track is joined by a dark and stormy, exclusive non-album cut entitled ‘Pik’, as well as a big room rave remix by ESP Institute resident Ian Blevins, which take us to a slightly more frantic place while retaining the euphoric essence of the original. More

Scottish producer Lord Of The Isles surely dropped some jaws in the last couple of years with some widely praised releases on excellent labels such as Ene records, Firecracker, Phonica, Cocktail d' amore or his own label Little Strong. Permanent Vacation welcomes him now with an expansive five track ep that shows his talent in the full monty. Cinematic soundscapes between Planet E-styled Techno, Bubbling Electronica, floating ambient and analog warehouse roughness that fits into the amazon jungle as well as into the Scottish high lands. Strike your weapons resistance is futile. More

It's been nearly two years since the shadowy Lord Of The Isles began his own Little Strong imprint, and though this is only the second release on the label the man's been far from idle. With releases on ENE Japan, Phonica, and the Firecracker offshoots Unthank and Shevchenko, to name but a few, his name has earned plaudits from connoisseurs across the planet. Now he reappears with a package of delights showcasing still more of his signature sound, which simultaneously manages to evoke both colourful tropical climes and barren northern landscapes. 'Timeless' is a much misused word, but here it is truly applicable with the likes of 'Ossian's Hall' calling to mind ancient folk melodies and rhythms, post rave sunrise soundtracks, and utopian future visions. Meditative synth passages which are fast becoming the Lord's forte are present once more also, with 'Fey Folk' and 'Xatsiv' providing the calm which is so welcome in this world of quick fix rhythm tracks. Finally, 'Nustron' exists in that zone between the outer and inner worlds, between the dancefloor and the sofa, both very fine places to find oneself. More

Renowned US producer Maceo Plex releases his highly anticipated third album, ‘’93', a homage to his three-decade journey through the realms of electronic music. Marking both a passion and a prolific career, the maestro presents a tantalising body of work that masterfully blends House, Hip Hop, Global Bass, Techno, Breaks, and Electronica. This audacious fusion delves into historic and modern influences, crafting an audio journey that transcends time, rich in history yet boldly future-facing.

‘’93' is a cross-genre exploration, seamlessly balancing emotion with hard-hitting beats. Maceo Plex collaborates with a stellar lineup of artists, including Diplo for his contribution on ‘You Don’t Have To Wait’ with Cubicolor, Oscar and the Wolf, Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction), Johnny Jewel and Desire, Kirsty Hawkshaw, Mystic Bill, AVNU, Giovanni, Ishi, and Tyler Hill, resulting in a diverse and dynamic musical affair.
This album narrates the story of a highly esteemed artist at a pivotal juncture in his career, consistently evolving towards new directions. Departing from the early deeper house sound that initially defined him, Maceo Plex intentionally ventures into new territory, steering away from his famed melodic and techno direction in recent years. Nevertheless, '93' retains the essence of Maceo Plex's signature style, transcending various sounds and genres in a manner reminiscent of his electrifying DJ sets, meticulously curated for the dancefloor and the crowds.

‘93’ vinyl LP by Maceo Plex is available on Lone Romantic from 17th May 2024.

Key Feedback Quotes:

Pete Tong - Maceo is such a talented producer. A sonic juganaut. An inspiration to so many aspiring music makers. He's a master of analogue and digital in the studio. He's a total 'one of'.
Kolsch - Incredible album!!!!
Artbat - “Very cooooool album!
Gregor Tresher - Wow, now this is what I call an album! Extraordinary stuff, I love it! Big up, Eric!
Hot Since 82 - Nothing short of sensational. My fav producer and DJ who consistantly sets the bar far too high and we all play catch up. Love it.
Rodriguez Jr - Awesome album. LOVE IT. Such a wide spectrum of influences here. Respect!
Laurent Garnier - Very cool. Will play these
Hernan Cattaneo - This is a really good album!
Wehbba - happy to finally see the album coming out, lots of gems, Nasty, Just You and I, Get out Of Here and You're My Desire are my main picks.
Eelke Kleijn - Already listened to the whole album on Spotify. Fantastic. Miles ahead of everyone else. Thanks for sending this, will play many of these for sure.
AFFKT - all tracks are amazing
Ida Engberg - Loooove this release! Stop that and Serpent jazz for me, can't wait to play them. Lone Romantic killing it!
Victor Ruiz - Honestly, you’re a genius! 10/10 productions always.
Pig&Dan - Great to hear new tunes from one of my favorite producers out there
Oliver Huntemann - some real gems on here
Fideles - wow, love it all
Peter Kruder - Love 'em all! Thanks for sending my way!
Yotto - Sick Sick Sick work!
Jody Wisternoff - Insane tracks from Maceo!!!
Terr - Amazing music as always, thx!
Nicolas Masseyeff - Solid release! Full Support!
Paige - Nasty is an absolutely mind-blowing track!!
Braxton - Incredible Album. .
Dense & Pika - Wicked stuff from Maceo.
Eli Brown - Always great music from Maceo Plex.
Anden - Congrats on the album! Love it!
Sergio Muñoz / Fur Coat - Great work from Eric! Congratulations.
La Fleur - So many gems in there, looking forward to having a proper listen from start to end! Thx
Captain Mustache - Big work here from Maceo, congratz!
Alex Kennon - This is a masterpiece!
Timo Maas - Clickbait is a cool track, I like the deep funk.
Martin Eyerer - This is a great album!! I love nasty most, but all great.
Nick Warren - This is such a great album.
Laurent Garnier - Very cool EP. Will play these.
Jonas Rathsman - Stop That sounds interesting

Key Radio Play:

Pete Tong/BBC Radio 1 - Maceo Plex ‘Hot Mix’ - 05/01/23
Pete Tong/BBC Radio 1 - Stop That (Essential New Tune) + You Don't Have To Wait - 15/12/23
Pete Tong/BBC Radio 1 - You Don’t Have To Wait - 15/12/23
Pete Tong/BBC Radio 1 - Maceo Plex guest mix - 05/01/24
Pete Tong/BBC Radio 1 - Stop That - 01/12/23 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

US-based producer MACK LOENZ makes his Lone Romantic debut with the beautifully anthemic ‘Dance With Me’. Centred around its captivating vocal, ‘Dance With Me’ layers its sounds throughout. Pulsing bass, half-time kicks and rasping snares, are adorned with powerful synth chords, chops, and aquatic flourishes. The track builds, yet never peaks, always maintaining its sense of stripped elegance and mystery throughout.

Maceo Plex, fresh from the release of his critically acclaimed new album ‘’93’, makes a swift return to the label to lend his signature touch to ‘Dance With Me’. Initially drawn to the beauty of the original, the Lone Romantic boss now deftly reimagines the track, slowing the tempo, amplifying the vocal and adding a cinematic propulsion to synths that results in a spine-tingling rework. More

Accomplished duo Paradigm Shift debuts on Lone Romantic with a powerful new single that comes remixed by cult electronic hero Nathan Fake. Paradigm Shift is a dynamic duo pushing the boundaries of sonic exploration with a mix of ethereal melodies and pulsating beats. The Dallas, Texas pair of Coy Wright and Trent Pawley make everything from ambient downtempo to high-energy electro and have since their early days in the mid-90s. They show here that they are still very much at the forefront with a sound as fresh as ever. The cinematic 'Force One' is a smooth electronic cruise on snappy drums and languid synths. It's a carefully layered track with cosmic drama coming from the evolving leads and scattered hits and one that will sweep up the dance floor and take it to all new levels. Border Community, Ninja Tune, and Cambria Instruments associate Nathan Fake has been crafting leftfield sounds for 20 years. He is a true innovator who paints with his synths and crafts some of dance music's most immersive sounds. He flips 'Force One' into a more kinetic cut that is dense with scintillating synth craft, oversized hi hats and melancholic leads. It makes for an epic journey that never stops shifting and seducing. This is another adventurous package from the always forward thinking Lone Romantic. More

Production powerhouses Sacha Robotti and Sian aka Third Culture serve up a powerful new EP for Maceo Plex’s Lone Romantic. Between them this pair have established it all in underground dance music. Irish-born Sian has been head of the Octopus imprint and its subsidiaries since 2007, and in that time has helped shaped the sound of techno. Sacha is the German-Italian producer, formerly one half of Robosonic, who has been crafting dance floor fire for almost two decades on the likes of Dirtybird, Nervous and Desert Hearts. As Third Culture the pair has released on labels like Diynamic and now come through for Maceo Plex's celebrated imprint. Opener 'U Move' is a gritty electro-tech cut with slapping analogue drum funk and a vocoder vocal up top. Frazzled synths and wild acid spray about the mix as this monstrous cut brings timeless futurism to the floor next to scintillating electro melodies. The potent 'Follow Me' rides on squelchy bass with plenty of sci-fi sound effects and a freaky vocal fleshing out the mix. It's a turbulent fusion of electro and techno that injects real energy as it constantly evolves on a compelling, funk-fuelled rhythm. Closer 'I See You' is the most caustic cut of the lot - the serrated synths buzz through the mix over tense drum programming. Bleeping melodies and electro-clash rhythms are overlaid with a clean male vocal to complete this intergalactic trip. This is another trio of stylish electro and techno fusion from the always innovative Third Culture. More

RLGN joins forces with a series of collaborators on his new Romantichrist EP, on Macceo Plex’s Lone Romantics. Russian innovator RLGN has a rough and ready techno sound that has come on Boysnoize Records, Private Persons and Don't Recordings. He is part of the experimental wave of post-Soviet artists mixing up scruffy basement techno with acid-laced modern electronics. Here he works solo on two tracks as well as with frequent collaborator Locked Club - a fellow Russian electronic punk, DUMMFÖUND - a Middle Eastern melody master who does everything from disco edits to house, breaks and techno, and Stelmakh - a musician, pianist and composer from Russia. The solo cut 'Olonkho' opens up with heavily filtered and guttural vocalisations looped over bristling breakbeats. It's a fizzing, caustic cut with snappy kicks and explosive hits that will blow up any dance floor. RLGN & Locked Club then join forces for 'Betrunkener Hund' which is a grizzly and frosty mid-tempo techno cut. The synths are twisted, the mood dystopian and the atmosphere edgy. RLGN & DUMMFÖUND's 'Mahaut' spins out on more busted bass and visceral drum programming with Middle Eastern vocal wails adding a sense of tension to the machine madness. RLGN & Stelmakh's 'Thriller' is a distorted and brain-frying mix of rusty synths and yelling vocals over urgent, broken techno drums and blizzard-like pads. RLGN shuts down the EP with the second solo track 'Rain In Kyoto', a punchy electro-techno workout with busy synth modulations, lush bell melodies and turbocharged basslines. These are five fierce and formidable techno fusions that take no prisoners. More

Maceo Plex's Lone Romantic label signs up new school techno innovators Any Act for the powerful Deti Techno EP. Since their self-released protest EP ‘Civil Act’, Yaroslavl-based collective Any Act have put out music that is physically, socially and politically powerful. That debut from the TRAM Planet Records associates was an evocative offering that paired dynamic guitar riffs with samples of a policeman's voice and acid-laced basslines. They now continue their mission to unite and strengthen young music communities in their native Russia, as well as around the world, with this new standout release. The bristling title track opens up with a killer electro-techno groove. Distorted synth stabs and dark vocal samples make for an intense and edgy atmosphere that will fire up any club. 'Jug A Jug' is another visceral track with razor-sharp synths ripping up the groove as busted bass blasts down low. Add in angular riffs and booming kicks and you have an explosive techno rave-up. The excellent 'Bayla' is another no-frills, lo-fi, high-impact banger with thumping drums and brain-frying synth textures that are all coated in grit and grime. 'Till I Die' shows a different side with its sleazy feel and ghetto bass. A freaky female vocal and pixelated melodies bring late-night rave vibes before closer 'Chin Chin De' takes off on rugged electro drum programming. It's an explosive cut with raw attitude and unbound energy that places you at the heart of a strobe-lit warehouse. This is a direct and potent EP from the hotly tipped Any Act. More

Acclaimed US DJ and producer Maceo Plex has announced the release of his long awaited studio album ‘Solar’. The climax to a lead up that included last year’s 7-track ‘Journey to Solar’, and 2015’s 2 track ‘Solar Sampler’, ‘Solar’ is due for release on his brand new label Lone Romantic on the 16th June. Lone Romantic is a new electronica based label; it will focus on albums and will also open its doors to releasing more avant guard and leftfield singles. Meanwhile, the ‘Solar’ album allows Maceo to utilise the long format to explore and expose his less explicitly club leaning and more reflective side, taking the listener on a journey through shades of electronica, techno, breakbeats, dub and more. Named after his son Solar, the album also chronicles his new found fatherhood; “the ups and downs in the first few years and its effects on life, marriage and more”. There’s still dancefloor suitable music within the album; opener ‘Sparks of Light’’s propulsive drums make for an attention grabbing first track, just as the driving 4/4 bassline of closing track ‘The Tesseract’ is a memorable climax. ’Polygon Pulse’ also features the hefty low end that Maceo has become known for, yet underneath breakbeat style drums and sighing vocal snippets More

Producer and DJ from Strasbourg, France - Itako's anachronistic influences combine a wide range of sounds from the 80's to the early 00', from industrial to disco & trance to new beat. He signed tracks and EP's on various labels such as Reach Another System, Artificial Horizon, Bella Ursa, Samo Records, Worst Record, Meta Moto and more… 5 track EP of raw and unadulterated Electro by ITAKO for his debut on Lone Romantic titled 'Ligotage EP' More

November see’s the 20th release of Lone Romantic, Ellum’s sister label which focuses on the nitty gritty that is all things Electro. Introducing to them to the LR family CYRK a duo made up of Sierra Sam and Pascal Hertzel who have seen releases on the likes of Rawax, Vakant to name a few deliver a 4 track monster titled Reality EP. TRACK LISTING: A1. Reality, A2. Holographic, B1. We Are Not, B2. Zeigarnik Effect
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Mysterious and masked techno talent Paul Villard unveils more of his musical weaponry on the Lone Romantic label this August. Nothing is known about this artist but from the fact that, “strange and unusual superhuman powers and abilities” came to him after a “gamma accident.” He has released on Blind Allies and Applied Research, remixed Carl Finlow and is a producer with a cinematic electro sound. Futuristic opener 'Side Effects’ is a bumping electro cut with a stuttering drum pattern and squelchy synth funk from another planet. ‘Submarine Limousine’ keeps up the cyborg styles with a crisp electro groove that is run through by sci-fi vocals and effects, while ’Fluid Dynamics’ is all watery synth droplets and fractured vocals panning about the mix. Taught bass stabs keep you on your toes and make for an otherwordly robot disco vibe. The second half of this well-crafted EP starts with the glowing pads and creepy atmospheres of ‘Bioluminescence’, a classic Drexcyian electro jam that charges hard and deep into the cosmos. ‘Neon Death’ is an explosion of coruscated synth lines and bumping bass, tripped out machine sounds and warped electro-techno before closer ‘C.A.R.R.I.O.N.’ zones you out with intense ambient pads and modulated synths that are restless and paranoid. With this majestic EP, Paul Villard paints and vivid picture of some distant interplanetary world. TRACK LISTING: A1. Side Effects, A2. Submarine Limousine, A3. Fluid Dynamics, B1. Bioluminscence, B2. Neon Death, B3 C.A.R.R.I.O.N. (Outro) PM
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Nehuen's Psyops Part One kicks off with the excellent title track, which contorts acid and electro into a writhing monster filled with dark energy. The visceral 'Toxic' is built on slapping hits and spangled basslines that will tie you in knots as the bumping drums drive things forward. The late-night menace continues on 'Bailar', with tight synth arps layered up in robotic forms over clunky drums that are industrial and futuristic in equal measure. Last but not least, the eerie 'Desire' strikes a more twisted note with double kicks juddering beneath echoing hits. It's pure, filthy, brilliant body music. Cardopusher kicks off Part Two with the fantastic 'Disobedience' (feat. Lbeeze) a slow-motion drum workout that is like dark disco mangled through a psychedelic filter, with robotic vocals and stiff arp jerking your body. 'Abyss Antidote' is then a flurry of drum breaks and electro bass, frazzled synths and whipping hits that keep you on the edge of your seat. Darkness abounds on the gritty 'Initial Decay' (ft. Lbeeze), which layers up taught drums and hits with spraying synths that come from a dystopian planet. Closing out this epic mini-series is 'Mutant Brain', a cyborg techno meltdown with manic acid for company. These are devilishly distorted tracks from two of the best producers around. TRACK LISTING A1. Disobedience (feat. Lbeeze) A2. Abyss Antidote, B1. Initial Decay (ft. Lbeeze), B2. Mutant Brain More

First up is Nehuen, an Argentinian born but Barcelona based artist who is notorious for his abrasive dance floor workouts on I Love Acid, BNR Trax and the Classicworks label he co-owns with Cardopusher. Cardopusher is, of course, a true electronic legend from Venezuela. His dizzyingly diverse sound takes in rave, acid, electro, techno and house influences and distills them into hugely Raw and energetic new forms. Nehuen's Psyops Part One kicks off with the excellent title track, which contorts acid and electro into a writhing monster filled with dark energy. The visceral 'Toxic' is built on slapping hits and spangled basslines that will tie you in knots as the bumping drums drive things forward. The late-night menace continues on 'Bailar', with tight synth arps layered up in robotic forms over clunky drums that are industrial and futuristic in equal measure. Last but not least, the eerie 'Desire' strikes a more twisted note with double kicks juddering beneath echoing hits. It's pure, filthy, brilliant body music. Cardopusher kicks off Part Two with the fantastic 'Disobedience' (feat. Lbeeze) a slow-motion drum workout that is like dark disco mangled through a psychedelic filter, with robotic vocals and stiff arp
jerking your body. 'Abyss Antidote' is then a flurry of drum breaks and electro bass, frazzled synths and whipping hits that keep you on the edge of your seat. Darkness abounds on the gritty 'Initial Decay' (ft. Lbeeze), which layers up taught drums and hits with spraying synths that come from a dystopian planet. Closing out this epic mini-series is 'Mutant Brain', a cyborg techno meltdown with manic acid for company. These are devilishly distorted tracks from two of the best producers around. TRACK LISTING. A1. Psyops, A2. Toxic, B1. B More

If Galaxy Lane’s first EP didn’t send the portals of time and space upside down, then the second EP will throw you down a vortex of hypnotic grooves juxtaposed with eerily erratic rhythms built in outer space. The first of two EP’s to be trusted in the hands of Lone Romantic, ‘Night’ and ‘Later That Night’ will explore the concept of capturing moments in time. Maybe Galaxy Lane can best summarise… “I want people to really feel the mistakes in this music, the dirt, the rough and raw approach, the ‘sitting on the floor surrounded by wires at 3am messing with synths’ approach. That to me is the magic of this music, the interaction of man and machine, to hear the nuances, the tweaking of knobs and pushes of faders. I think we have lost that somewhat with digital technology, and have lost a lot of feeling in the process”. ‘Night’ will propel the listener into ethereal textures layered over rough and raw beats, as outlined on opening track ‘Deep Space Nine’. If that sets you up for thinking this will be a dreamy ride, ‘Communication’ hits hard at the rear of the spaceship, coming at you with intergalactic bleeps, zaps and back cracking rhythms made for getting down. Side 2 sets off on an exploration of wild eyed boundary flexing in the shape of ‘Enter The Light’. Pushing the machines to near breaking point whilst just hanging on, it’s a track that shows what can be done when the spaceship is left to drive itself, you can do nothing more than go with it and and see what happens. ‘Snow Day’ is perhaps the perfect way to round us back in. A more calmer, smoother ride, it’s unmistakable polyrhythms soothing the soul and setting us up for the next chapter… TRACK LISTING: A1. Made, A2. Silver, B1. Square, B2. Wix More

If Galaxy Lane’s first EP didn’t send the portals of time and space upside down, then the second EP will throw you down a vortex of hypnotic grooves juxtaposed with eerily erratic rhythms built in outer space. The first of two EP’s to be trusted in the hands of Lone Romantic, ‘Night’ and ‘Later That Night’ will explore the concept of capturing moments in time. Maybe Galaxy Lane can best summarise… “I want people to really feel the mistakes in this music, the dirt, the rough and raw approach, the ‘sitting on the floor surrounded by wires at 3am messing with synths’ approach. That to me is the magic of this music, the interaction of man and machine, to hear the nuances, the tweaking of knobs and pushes of faders. I think we have lost that somewhat with digital technology, and have lost a lot of feeling in the process” ‘Night’ will propel the listener into ethereal textures layered over rough and raw beats, as outlined on opening track ‘Deep Space Nine’. If that sets you up for thinking this will be a dreamy ride, ‘Communication’ hits hard at the rear of the spaceship, coming at you with intergalactic bleeps, zaps and back cracking rhythms made for getting down. Side 2 sets off on an exploration of wild eyed boundary flexing in the shape of ‘Enter The Light’. Pushing the machines to near breaking point whilst just hanging on, it’s a track that shows what can be done when the spaceship is left to drive itself, you can do nothing more than go with it and and see what happens. ‘Snow Day’ is perhaps the perfect way to round us back in. A more calmer, smoother ride, it’s unmistakable polyrhythms soothing the soul and setting us up for the next chapter… More

Maceo Plex's Lone Romantic welcomes ManEater for a superb debut single that comes backed with a remix from the ever-excellent Alinka. ManEater is a mysterious name with no online profile but an evocative sound that goes way beyond the dancefloor and well into the future. They make music that is much more than club fodder, instead cooking up cinematic and evocative landscapes. The excellent 'Hurry On Up' is an expansive electro trip to the edges of the cosmos. Distant pads shimmer like forgotten planets, crisp claps and slick drums make for a frictionless groove that always keeps you moving and the ominous bass and soulful vocal cries finish the whole thing in real style. Chicago native Alinka is enlisted to remix. She is known for her weird and idiosyncratic take on house on labels like Crosstown, Classic and her own Twirl and is one of the most exciting names in the current Windy City scene. Her fantastic version of 'Hurry On Up' is harder hitting, with tough drums and a lead arp that lights up the whole track with a late night menace. This is classy electro that really makes a mark. More

A third of Italian production act Agents Of Time, Sharp Felon loops out of the trio’s orbit to land his debut solo EP on Maceo Plex’s Lone Romantic, ‘Let The Game Begin’ – featuring three stunt-driving cosmonautical bangers that aim to abolish all sense of gravity in the club and beyond. Breaking in at fierce speed, ‘Devil Trail’ attacks pedal to the metal and leaves prismatic wisps of vapor in its wake. A proper electro-magnetic dasher, the track alternates steady shooting sequences of 303-marinated bass with eloquent kosmische-indebted synth maneuvers and laser-precise breaks, all joining forces to have your feet shuffling and mind drifting up into higher spheres of consciousness in one potent backhanded caress. A more straightforward affair, B-side opener ‘Telework Titan’ lifts its listener off to a further compelling state of meditative balance through a nonetheless muscular groove and epic-sized sub-bass moves. Cruising in the upper layers of the stratosphere, Sharp Felon’s stamps on the accelerator of his shark-mouthed spaceship and hedgehops across craggy alien reliefs with personal hands-on skills. Intergalactic transmissions announce an imminent extra-terrestrial invasion, it’s time to tune out and enter the melee. Laser guns blazing and acid stabs smoking, ‘Cyber Fex’ nose-dives in an enemy-occupied territory and washes over the ground brawl like a hi-tech tsunami. Purebred Donald-ian face-melter in sheer Dopplereffekt meets Arpanet fashion, this one lacks no oomph. More

If you were to dash through cross-dimensional portals somewhere on the other end of the multiverse for a routine, there's good chances you'd be listening to Galaxy Lane's 'Voyager 1' full blast in your saucer. Next in line on Lone Romantic, the mysterious producer from outer-space lands a particularly delectable debut transmission fuelled on wilder-than-wild electro grooves, glitchy radio disruptions and boy, a healthy dose of laser-precise early rave breaks. More