Exploration, collaboration and curiosity define the rhythm at the beating heart of Mehmet Aslan’s exemplary compositions. The Swiss-born producer of Turkish heritage has already forged a singular path through production, DJing and full-band performances, navigating the more esoteric corners of Berlin’s club culture without sacrificing his musical heritage or innate creativity. Opener ‘Spectra’ provides a forceful, almost industrial breakbeat that establishes the exigency of the album as well as its sense of wonder, while ‘Euphoria’ reaches the potency of its promise slowly, with Aslan’s modular melodies meeting the flourishing percussion of guest player and multi-instrumentalist, POPP. Finally, ‘Aura’ delivers a cinematic conclusion, mixing an elegiac organ motif, haunting guitar chords and the prophetic sense of a scorched earth. Here, with patience and soaring production, Aslan once more makes the abstract and the unthinkable somehow tangible, mixing in sampled birdsong. Accordingly, ‘Auguri’ is being released in accordance with EarthPercent, the music industry’s climate foundation, co-founded by Brian Eno. A portion of the album’s publishing will be credited as part of ‘The Earth As Your Co-Writer’ initiative, allowing artists to directly credit The Earth in their new compositions. Here, streaming and publishing from Aslan’s recorded sounds are automatically paid back to a number of vital initiatives worldwide. Leaning into some of the most vital questions and anxieties of our time, ‘Auguri’ is not a project without a sense of hope. From studio to sea, Mehmet Aslan continues to look to the skies and beyond. More

For it’s second-release, Planisphere returns once more to the Berlin studio of Swiss-Turkish producer Mehmet Aslan, who has fast become one of the most fiercely individual and increasingly prolific emerging artists in some time.
This three-track EP is arguably Aslan’s most-refined work to date, aiming squarely at heads-down dancefloors, riding on sophisticated and hypnotic grooves. On ‘Comme II Faut’, a minimal beat unravels Aslan’s textural, traditional samples, delivering a woozy and intoxicating atmosphere.
Meanwhile, ‘Lobster Is Coincidence’ christens the EP with its title and a stop-start slice of unpredictable, cut-up psychedelia, utilizing obscure samples to generate esoteric funk. On the contrary, Aslan executes a tapestry of tightly-wound and no less entrancing rhythms on ‘Kakusui’, which evolves intriguingly with a subtle half-step and further echoes of Aslan’s unique musical heritage.
TRACK LISTING
A1. Comme Il Faut
A2. Lobster Is Coincidence
B. Kakusui More

Auntie Flo returns to Highlife! Paying homage to a time well spent in Korea. Delicate and atmospheric sound design from the DMZ. With thanks to our pal Akimbo for granting permission to feature the chuggy remix of High Flight. More

Little did we know when we started Highlife back in 2010, that over in Quito, Ecuador a young Nicola Cruz was being drawn to the similar sounds and artists as us. Over time we've formed a mutual admiration and we couldn't think of a better example of a Highlife artist - so we're unbelievably excited to present his debut record on the label! The EP is inspired by walks around nature, cachoeiras, forests, simply all the beauty you find when visiting isolated, almost untouched spots of gorgeous nature. More

We're delighted to kick off our 10th anniversary celebrations with a release from an artist we've long admired, Dusseldorf's Harmonious Thelonious. His explorations into minimalism and polyrhythms have been staples in our sets since we were first connected via the Salon des Amateurs, and we couldn't be happier to welcome him into the Highlife fold with one of his brightest sounding records yet - documenting his musical adventures in Uganda.A1. Versteckte Muziek, A2. George Villa ft. Leo Palayeng, B1. Company, B2. It Never Rains In Jinja ft. Ocen James More

"Music is changing, the world is getting smaller.. Highlife brings you fresh new music from corners of the world you’d least expect." An early slogan we adopted in 2010.. On the eve of our 10th anniversary and as we question our relevancy, we close out the year with fresh new music by a brand new project.. and what a BEAUTIFUL case in point! Brought to you in collaboration between Skinnydeep from Masiphumelele - one of the largest townships in Cape Town - and Jesse Reiner of Brooklyn, NYC. The two producers bonded over a shared sensibility in electronic minimalism, Zulu rhythms, house and techno and began a year’s long international collaboration resulting in Unyuko - meaning 'going up' in isiXhosa, one of the Bantu languages of South Africa. It references ‘upllifting’ or ‘a rising’ after struggle and couldn't be a more appropriate title. More

This years' summer hits on Highlife comes courtesy of a new artist from Hamburg called Green Ink who's served up four uniquely brilliant global party smashers. Game on! More

CAIN is back with a BANG this summer! The smile inducing Eshu probably one of the biggest tracks he's made to date and one we've sat on for too long now.. As always, the other two tracks are equally as varied and great - Phoenix makes for a great opener and Hoji is a current Lena Willikens hit. More

Having been rinsed by the likes of Dixon over the summer, we're very happy to finally release Auntie Flo's remix of Oumou Sangare! It's complimented by a brand new original by the man himself on the flip, Desert Island. More

In the final chapter of the 'Theory of Flo' story, we've enlisted the services of the mighty DJ Sotofett to remix the closing track 'For Mihaly', and what a job he's done! Dark, weird and percussive - just how we like it. We also include brand new versions featuring occasional live drummer, Laurie Pitt and a reprise with Poppy Ackroyd.
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Next up in the series of remixes for Auntie Flo's acclaimed 'Theory of Flo' LP, we've employed the services of our buddies from Stockholm, London and Russia in the form of Kornél Kovács, Throwing Shade and Lipelis respectively. Each of them have done an amazing job turning each track into something very special, as we're sure you'll agree.. More

Introducing the next release on Highlife - our secret weapons by the mysterious Tanzania Sound System. If you've caught us playing anywhere this year, you'll have heard at least one of these. Now it's time to share the goodness... More

Having been shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year? award, we follow up 'Theory of Flo' with some stellar remixes from friends and associates.. Next up in the series, we've employed the services of our Berlin buddies, Africaine 808 and a long time favourite producer of ours, Mark E; who have each delivered a blinder. Auntie Flo himself tops things off with a brand new version of the album opener primed for the dancefloor. More

Having been recently shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year award, we follow up 'Theory of Flo' with some stellar remixes from friends and associates. First up HIGHLIFE label mates, Mehmet Aslan and CAIN deliver the goods on Cape Malay Prayer and Hewal3 - as to be expected. What wasn't planned was this sublime rework by The Revenge. We felt so precious about Waiting For A (Woman) - convinced that the original was too good to be tampered with - until an unexpected turn of events brought our fellow Glaswegian (and SAY nominee) to the controls, resulting in a sophisticated rework for the dancefloor - who better really when you think about it?!
Released on vinyl courtesy of Highlife x H+P this summer. More remixes on the way.. More

Following his NAGAN belter and fresh from his recent appearance on the Boiler Room, CAIN returns to India with two superb rhythmic releases on HIGHLIFE. Early support from Ben UFO, Optimo, Midland, Pearson Sound, Studio Barnhus, Honey Soundsystem, Cowboy Rhythmbox, etc. More

Following his NAGAN belter, CAIN returns to India with two superb rhythmic releases on HIGHLIFE. Early support from Ben UFO, Optimo, Midland, Pearson Sound, Studio Barnhus, Honey Soundsystem, Cowboy Rhythmbox, etc. More

Next up in the Highlife World Series, we take a trip to Kenya where our man Esa plays the role of producer for the first time; with super talented local musicians - Sarabi and Makadem (aka the Fela of Kenya). Instantly timeless on both sides, see for yourself.. More

The Highlife World Series is a collaborative series of releases by UK-based Brian d’Souza aka Auntie Flo and Esa Williams. The first three parts are to be released in quick succession in early 2015, beginning with Cuba, followed by Kenya and finishing with Uganda. Each release features original songs produced in collaboration with local musicians. All proceeds from each release will be sent back to the respective countries in order to fund further musical production costs in years to come. We will also be seeking various ways to distribute the music in each country so the music is freely available for the musicians to use at home. More

Introducing previous HIGHLIFE guest, CAIN for his first vinyl release... We've been asked about NAGAN joyously infectious vocals all summer since its debut on our Rinse show and are excited to finally share it along with HIGHLIFE exclusive, VATULA.. Think Daphni via Delhi and you'll be in a similar ballpark. Nagan comes from CAIN's 'Savann EP' due to be released digitally via Fine Grains in the forthcoming months. More

We hope you will permit us the indulgence of deviating slightly from our globe trotting explorations on this release as we pay homage to the sun. 'HIGHLIFE on holiday', if you will. Stepping away from the edits, Auntie Flo delivers a new original track. Sun Ritual II takes things up a notch from its earlier counterpart (released on Kompakt), banging dare-we-say-it 'Berghain techno' gives way to warm synth-laden euphoria. On the flip, Miajica, one third of Alma Negra who you may recall from HIGHLIFE2. Here he serves up a delightfully familiar summer treat, the original being an end of the night, HIGHLIFE highlight, particularly at our annual 'Tribute to the Sun' event. We're sure you'll agree that both sides are rock solid and primed for the summer! More