Cyphon Recordings continue their deep dive into the rich heritage of UK and Detroit electronic sounds with their second label release, this time from Danny Was A Drag King label boss DJ Rocca.

Active since the 90s, the Italian producer is a dedicated explorer of the Italo Disco-inspired sounds native to his home. He’s been plotting his sonic journey for decades, making pit stops at labels across Europe including Rekids,Toy Tonics, Slow Motion, Rotten City Records and Roam Recordings. On top of his solo outings, collaboration has played a big role in his production journey to date. He’s worked with artists like Howie B, Jazzanova and Zed Bias, as well as joining forces on ongoing projects with fellow Italian stalwart Daniele Baldelli and Dimitri From Paris, the latter under the name Erodiscotique.

Now back on his solo pursuits for Cyphon, Rocca proves he’s still very much at the top of his game. The four cuts on ‘Code 041’ explore all shades of electro, from raw, old school machine funk to futuristic cosmic sounds. It’s electro done the Rocca way.

The title track sets the tone. An eerie bass line crawls along, providing a bed for reflective pads to glide and mysterious synth sounds and echoing vocal samples to ricochet above. ‘No Gym’ greets us next, bringing that Italo flair Rocca’s mastered so well. It’s the most vibrant track on the release, matching colourful pinging synths and tropical-tinged melodies with a signature driving acid bass line.

On the flip, ‘The Bigger Lake’ takes the EP in a different direction, on a trip through dark glistening pads, tittering percussion and sub aquatic bass before the dusty breaks and moody, jazzy keys of ‘Omega’ bring the release to a close. Mirroring Cyphon’s label ethos, Rocca showcases the best of the past and present of a timeless sound.


DJ Feedback:

Hammer / Feel My Bicep - This is sounding absolutely great! x

Laurent Garnier - Twisted funkyness… Great stuff

Pattn / Fabric Resident - These are quality productions, sounding crisp. Really like the No Gym track.

Josh Cheon / Dark Entries - loving the first track!

Cormac / Polari Records - enjoying the no gym track

Justin Cudmore / The Bunker NYC - I am liking this release! I'd love to play this.

REES / CWPT - Big lover of this one!

Ryan Clover / Homage NYC - Sound a bit too lo-fi for my tastes when it comes to electro.

Ngoni Egan / United Identities - Really solid release. Love the Omega track. The pads are lovely in it! Arrangement and journey of the track is great :) More

DJ Rocca returns to Wonder Stories with a stunning EP that only the Italian legend could produce. Steeped in his style, the eclectic producer submits three original tracks dedicated to his favourite types of pastas.
Known for his collaborations with Dimitri From Paris, and Daniele Baldelli, Rocca's playful energy and original song writing shines through. On remix duty is the elusive DJ Fett Burger who combines 'Spaghetti' and 'Fusilli' into a chaotic amalgamation of stabby synths and percussive drums.
'Spaghetti' is a left-field house tune with muted bass and eerie synth melodies. 90s house stabs and lo-fi broken beats amp up the track with sultry vocal lines accenting throughout. 'Fusilli' emerses the listener in a tribal futuristic landscape of a forgotten synthetic world. Think after hours of a blade runner rave. Rocca's studio prowess really shines here, as his analogue. synthesizer and drum machine collection are brought to the forefront.
'Penne' slows things down into a slow-mo funk disco-esque tune with sharp stabby synths and a growling bassline. Rocca, ever the multi-instrumentalist, let's his flute playing shine here, culminating in a seriously vibey aesthetic.
Opting for his pseudonym 'DJ Fett Birger', DJ Fett Burger combines both 'Spaghetti' & 'Fusilli' into a frantic and chaotic amalgamation of breaks and acid.The addition of an elusive vocal sample brings a mindset of late speed-induced warehouse raves. More

After taking us on a drug chug at the start of the year DJ Rocca serves up 2 tracks for the next EDSC Release. Lets Go Party kicks things off.... stabby chords, Roland percussion, catchy vocal shots, bass-line and massive E'd up breakdowns make this a must have slate for your box. Th remix comes in the form of an Italo banger from a fave of the El Diablo's cartel - Brioski who goes straight for the heart of the dance floor and rips it right out. Slumber slows the pace down a bit sounding like something from a late 70's Italian horror movie...pulsating chords & echoey piano reminiscent of Claudio Simonetti & John Carpenter. El Diablo's Social Club remix stays in the same vein making making sparse use of the eerie piano whilst adding a chuggy bassline, heavy arps and some extra guitars courtesy of Crazy P's Tim Davies.
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California house music maestro Jason Merle returns to Whiskey Pickle in 2024 with a revamped mixdown of his slow burning deep chugger 'Fester' paired with the previously unreleased jackin' house groover 'Can U Handle It'.

On the B side coming in from London town we have ALFOS very own Sean Johnston (Hardway Bros) turning in an absolutely wicked rendition of 'Fester'. Hardcore you know the score, acid house for the headstrong. Whiskey Pickle will make you wiggle!

Early support from Erol Alkan, Space Dimension Controller, Makossa, Eddie Richards, Alinka, Marco Carola, Audio Soul Project, Maceo Plex, Alkalino, James Zabiela, DJ Nova, Paco Osuna, Sam Divine, Cole Odin, Harri, Severino, Bruce Tantum, Hakan Dahlby, etc More

A1 – Dispassion
B1 - Dispassion (Malinovsky Remix)
B2 - Dispassion (Rune Lindbaek Remix)

The Cruising’s two cool customers, Yula Vovk and Sergei Demidov, make a remarkable return to Whiskey Pickle, and this time around on the label’s vinyl department. Even as Russians their original tune “Dispassion” has an NYC underground retro-futurism. Their blues vocal sampler, impressive bassline, and impeccable drum programming conjure an Arthur Russell guitar fascination and a cosmic disco weirdo Balearic rhythm exploration.

Malinovsky’s version is centered on a dusty deeper affair. The result is a soft percussive, melancholic remix with a darker synth-scape and intensely psychedelic Eastern echoes.

Rune Lindbæk’s talent and versatility completes the space between duets undefined DIY disco and house's general spectrum. His mix is a mesmerizing Balearic house reflection of the original. The Phil Harding-wise rhythm supported by an atmospheric trumpet and original's strings escapism.
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Whiskey Pickle Records heads south of the border and scoops up everyone's favorite, Yucatan disco fiend, Hotmood. After a slew of infectious 12"s for Chicago's Tugboat Edits/Star Creature, Hotmood offers up a fresh collection of dancfloor cuts and taps UK darling, Loz Goddard for an epic remix. The Discotheque Dependencies EP see's Hotmood in his prime with each tune channelling jazzy grooves, heavy beats and vibes galore.
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Iceland born, Norway based disco producer, BG Baarregaard, drops in for the inaugural vinyl outing of Austin, TX based imprint, Whiskey Pickle Records. The Buskerud Tales EP comes complete with four, silky smooth original productions that cover the bases between Italo Disco, Balearic, 90's tinged R&B and soulful house. More