Matt Tolfrey’s Leftroom imprint makes a triumphant return here with a remix package featuring Mathew Jonson, Silverlining, Maher Daniel and Sakro, all reworking cuts from his 2020 ‘All Shapes And Different Sizes’ LP. Across the past two decades the UK’s Matt Tolfrey has been at the forefront of the underground House and Techno scene, releasing material on many seminal labels in the industry such as REKIDS, Cocoon, Music For Freaks, Crosstown Rebels, mix compilations for fabric and Classic, and of course his very own Leftroom which returns here following its last vinyl release back in 2020 from Detroit’s Norm Talley and Ataxia. Up first on remix duties is Canadian machine maestro Mathew Jonson who remixes ‘How It’s Gonna Be’ featuring Tim Fuller, offering up his signature twitchy synth work, robust analogue drums and cinematic leads running alongside the original’s hooky vocal lines. Maher Daniel steps up next to remix ‘Feel The Same’, opting for an intricate electro tinged drum workout, wavey subs and hypnotic vocal chants. London’s Silverlining then reworks ‘Fantasy’ featuring Shaun J. Wright next, diving deeper via a skippy, swinging drum groove, airy dubbed out chords, snaking bass groove and soulful, intricately processed vocal licks. Lastly to round things out, Sakro remixes ‘Under The Skin' featuring Lil Mark, the Mexican artist reshapes the original with his unique drum-led, groove driven style, fusing crisp snares and shuffled percussion, alongside an amalgamation of choppy bass hits, bleepy synths and sweeping atmospherics.
PLEASE NOTE THE VINYL COPY OF THIS RECORD HAS INCORRECT STICKER INFO. More

Leftroom continue their rejuvenated, rich vein of subversive form with this dynamite 12” from a man who needs no introduction whatsoever: Alex Arnout. Long time Leftroom kindred spirit and close friend, first time label artist, here we find the Dogmatik bossman in stone cold groove mode with three crystalline originals and a powerful remix from fellow London-based craftsmasn Voigtmann. ‘Phantom Power’ ignites the EP with pure signal energy. Unhurried in its gradually twinkling charm, what begins as a dark dubby sound soon flips into a timeless rising harmonic hook that’s unabashed in its strong themes of uplift and positivity. Watch as you floor turns to jelly when those chords sweep in. Then drop the Voigtmann remix and watch as every single limb loosens up to that distinctive, fluid dark late nightLondon funk that the Toi Toi Musik founder has made his own. ‘Distorted Lens’ brings up the rear, leading the B-side with bubbly jacking charm. Molten in its groove shape and flow, it’s peppered with vast emotional washes that sweep in and arrest the senses when you least expect it. Last but not least, ‘Ssub Space’ closes the show with a crafty flip from bubbling to wriggling. Here we find Alex fixes our focus on the dirtier bottom end of the track. Shifty, switchyand just on the right side of tippy, if this isn’t moving your lower lumber, you need to reconnect with a dancefloor very very soon. More

“Today is a good day... Rework’s ‘You’re So Just Just’ formerly released on Playhouse is making an exclusive return on Leftroom for Record Store Day. One of my favourite records of all time and a firm fabric anthem, I had to ask Paranoid London’s Johnny AUX for a remix and also gave it a go myself with one of my EC1 Mixes. There is a limited vinyl run on this so grab it while they are still on the shelves!!!” - Matt Tolfrey - April 2018 More

DFA / Visionquest duo Benoit & Sergio return mid October with some fresh and typically unique new material via Matt Tolfrey’s Leftroom Limited imprint. More

Late 2014 saw Leftroom drop Contexterrior and Tuning Spork’s main man Jay Haze’s new project ‘Finding Oriya’ alongside ESB, which picked up support from the likes of Dave DK, Breach, Mr.G and Massimiliano Pagliara. Here the imprint returns to the project and highlights one of its lead cuts whilst enlisting the services of old school house head Nail, and the ever on-point Cottam on remix duties. First up is the Nail remix which takes a typically groove-led format bringing hooky bass stabs, bumpy rhythms and an amalgamation of swirling atmospherics and vocal murmurs into the limelight. Next up Nail delivers a second remix under his new Smoke guise, and this time strips back the original track into a swirling, seven and a half minute dubbed out interpretation with snaking stab echoes and robust sub lines running throughout. Cottam takes the lead on the flip with his ‘Club Dub’ of ‘Refine To Deepness’, delivering his signature rugged dropped tempo house style with crunchy drum sounds, stuttering arpeggios and an infectious stab sequence. The original of ‘Refine To Deepness’ then shapes up the package, bringing Haze & ESB’s mesmerizing and hypnotic original number back into focus. More

Steve Lawler has been at the top of his game for close to two decade now having been DJ’ing in Ibiza, London and further afield since the mid 90’s, 2006 saw the launch of his ViVA Music imprint, which over the years has welcomed many of today’s tastemakers onto the roster. To date Steve retains a heavy touring and release schedule, with his ViVa Warriors brand spanning the globe and regular output coming via leading imprints in the industry like Hot Creations, where he delivered the ‘House Record’ EP in 2014 and here he adds another driving force to his affiliations, namely Leftroom. Title cut ‘Call Of The Cuckoo’ opens up the two tracker and in typical Steve Lawler fashion we’re treated to an amalgamation of rugged bass tones, penetrative, unfolding drum programming and cleverly chopped vocals. The end result is a powerful dance floor cut as you’d expect from such a seasoned producer.On the flip side Lawler offers up ‘Can’t Stop’, which lays its focus on a heavily swung drum groove, chuggy bass sequences and wandering arpeggio licks to round things off on a raw, up-tempo tip. More

CD LEFTCD006 UPC: 5060376934762
TRACKLISTING:
1. Intro 2. Wail Away Baby 3. Can't Keep Giving In 4. Founded In You 5. Friday Always Remembers 6. Darkness Inside 7. Refine To Deepness feat Tyler 8. The Other Day 9. Finding Oriya 10. Outro

Philadelphia-born producer Jay Haze has carved out quite the career for himself over the past decade, having headed up the successful Tuning Spork and Contexterrior imprints, as well as operating under his Fuckpony pseudonym which has seen him unveil material for the likes of Get Physical, Cocoon and BPitch. Here we see Haze pair up with ESB (Electric Sound Broadcast) aka Elan Benaroch, notably known for his work with Canada's Deepen Sound, to deliver this long player for the Leftroom label.
Across the ten-track long player 'Finding Oriya' we see Haze & Elan explore a variety or ethereal, mindbending and profound textures to create an intelligent, understated and charming collection. From the dropped-tempo nu-disco tinged feel of 'Darkness Inside', 'Wail Away Baby' and 'Founded In You', through to the entrancing feel of 'Refine To Deepness', 'Can't Keep Giving In' and 'Friday Always Remembers', the duo display their perspicacious and fundamental knowledge of electronic music production in its discerning and heartfelt form. More

Fantastic four track album sampler from Jay Haze & ESB's forthcoming 'Finding Oriya' album released this November on Leftroom. Philadelphia-born producer Jay Haze has carved out quite the career for himself over the past decade, having headed up the successful Tuning Spork and Contexterrior imprints, as well as operating under his Fuckpony pseudonym which has seen him unveil material for the likes of Get Physical, Cocoon and BPitch. Here we see Haze pair up with ESB (Electric Sound Broadcast) aka Elan Benaroch, notably known for his work with Canada's Deepen Sound, to deliver a long player for the Leftroom label. Finding Oriya is the musical culmination of the journey towards fatherhood for Haze, here we see Haze & Elan explore a variety or ethereal, mind-bending and profound textures to create an intelligent, understated and charming collection. From the electronic beauty of 'Finding Oriya', the dropped-tempo nu-disco tinged feel of 'Founded In You', through to the entrancing feel of 'Friday Always Remembers', ands the mid-tempo magic of 'Can't Keep Giving In', this eclectic four track sampler is a great introduction to the eagerly anticipated album More

The Leftroom imprint marks a milestone 50 releases this October, offering up the 'Four Fingers' EP from Matt Tolfrey and jozif under their newly formed Kerb Staller guise. Kicking things off is the original mix of 'Safety Instructions', seeing the pair employ a classic amen break, a 303 bass hook and chuggy guitar licks as the driving force. While the latter stages see vocal murmurs build tension in the depths of the cut, as the envelope of the acid line is opened up to a squelchy, psychedelic feel in true acid house fashion. Ibadan's Jerome Sydenham steps up to rework 'Safety Instructions' next, providing a typically raw interpretation. Contrasting to the original cut Sydenham brings heavy distorted rhythms to the forefront here, as the nexpansive atmospherics and synth licks are subtly eased into the groove to create a slow-blooming reshape. Opening the flip side of the release is 'Siren Song', taking things in a more album based, musical direction with a stuttering bass hook, clavia synth licks and original vocal lines helping create a charming and brilliantly unique composition from the duo. Thugfucker steps up to follow with his 'Lio's Wide Shut Rework' of 'Siren Song', the Life & Death artists treat us to their signature melodic and entrancing style, fusing warm analogue pads and wandering arpeggios into a hypnotic workout. More

Word of Mouth' is the October released debut album from the tireless Leftroom Records boss and producer/DJ, Matt Tolfrey. Featuring a rich selection of talent, from the relatively new such as James Teej, Jem Cooke and Kevin Knapp, to legends like Marshall Jefferson and Ya Kid K, 'Word Of Mouth' is a return to the feel of classic house albums of old where collaborations with vocalists, engineers and mix engineers were worn as a badge of honour. Matt Tolfrey is a fixture of modern house music that can feel a definite sense of pride over his achievements. Once a young upstart who was championed by DJs as diverse as Craig Richards and Pete Tong, he's now a mentor to many via his various Leftroom imprints while still retaining the obsessive and energetic enthusiasm for music and it's machinations. A recording artist who has released on Cocoon, Rekids, Crosstown Rebels, Saved, Culprit and more, Tolfrey's touch in the studio is undoubted but with 'Word of Mouth' we're treated to a unique insight into his influences, working methods and what makes him tick.
Tracklist:
1. Encarta
2. Never Assume (feat. James Teej)
3. The Truth (feat Marshall Jefferson)
4. Downtown (feat Kevin Knapp)
5. Mission to Paradise (feat Jem Cooke)
6. Darkside of The Disco Ball
7. Turn You Out (feat Ya Kid K)
8. Distant Story (feat Jem Cooke & Kevin Knapp)
9. The Spooks (feat Kevin Knapp)
10. Not So Little (feat Kevin Knapp)

More