GENRE/S: House / Techno, Trip-Hop/Headz

TRACKLISTS:
A1: Omina (DJ Counselling Remix)
A2: Flakon (All Is Well Remix)
B1: Slow White (Yuu Udagawa Remix)
B2: Shadowgraph (Yuu Udagawa Remix)

SHORT INFO:

Following the recent vinyl reissue of Manuel Tur's cinematic downtempo album "Intertextural", originally self-released during the Covid 19 pandemic, comes this package of fresh remixes featuring interpretations of four standout tracks from the record by DJ Counselling, All Is Well and Yuu Udagawa.

London-based DJ Counselling opens the EP with his energetic version of "Omina", raising tempo and hands with an expertly executed arrangement, while the newly added filtered synth chords echo some of Tur's best-known releases of the late noughties. Next up is Montreal's Frédéric Blais aka All Is Well, who after his recent LP success on Drumpoet and another brand-new album under his main moniker Fred Everything just released, turns "Flakon" into a head-nodding groove masterpiece that recalls the subtle 90s trip-hop flavor of the original version. On the B-side, Tokyo native Yuu Udagawa, who has collaborated with Tur on several occasions, unleashes two beautiful and ethereal remixes of "Slow White" and "Shadowgraph" that let us float through her signature sparkling sound.



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GENRE/S: Ambient, Dope Beat, Trip-Hop/Headz

TRACKLISTS:

A1: In My Study
A2: Shadowgraph
A3: Flakon
A4: Slow White
A5: Crop Rotation
A6: Tents
B1: Muesli Creator
B2: Andando
B3: Intertextural
B4: Fender Reveal
B5: Omina
B6: Rite Of Passage

SHORT INFO:

On "Intertextural", Manuel Tur delves into more cinematic ambient and trip-hop realms, reminiscent of short interludes from 1990s classic electronica albums. 12 tracks of shifting beat structures, meandering loops and interlocking dubs, oscillating between sample-based and digital textures, form an atmospherically dense tapestry already familiar from Tur's productions for the dance floor.
Originally recorded in the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic and self-released as a digital-only album, "Intertextural" is now available for the first time in a physical format, specially remastered and cut to 180g vinyl.

VITAL SALES POINTS:

- 180g vinyl pressing
- former digital-only album now available for the first time in physical format


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GENRE/S: House, House / Techno

TRACKLISTS:
A: Soft Clip
B1: Hip Control
B2: Suave Gear Changer

SHORT INFO:
Clipping me softly! Manuel Tur returns to his own new label Spaced Repetitions with a second round of atmospherically
dense DJ tools. Three different cuts for any time of night or day - did someone say Swiss Army Knife?
Content Summary: Suspenseful title track "Soft Clip" takes us on a dark and dreamy boat ride through the midnight
jungle, before the energetic "Hip Control" with its distant sounds of a nearby ritual inevitably makes our bodies shake as
we approach the riverbank. Finally back on solid ground, the heavy groove of "Suave Gear Changer" points the way
inland. But will thes beguiling scent and hypnotic sounds of the surroundings ever let us arrive? Find out in the next
instalment of Spaced Repetitions. More

First release on the new label by Manuel Tur.

TRACKLISTS:

A: Alphalpha
B1: La Terre
B2: Immune Response

SHORT INFO:

Spaced Repetitions is the brand-new label by veteran producer Manuel Tur. Following his most recent releases on Running Back and Lossless, the German digs deeper on the “Alphalpha EP”, fusing hints of sampled house grooves and bleepy techno synth work. With the lead track reminiscent of classic Parisian dark chemistry à la Motorbass, things get more driving on the B-side: the percussive “La Terre” leads us to the magnetic acid groove of “Immune Response”, rounding off this hypnotic three-track EP.
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Tracklist:
1. Digital Fabric 01
2. Digital Fabric 02
3. Digital Fabric 03

Release Info:
Warm welcome to Manuel Tur, who debuts on Lossless with his captivating Digital Fabrics EP. Expect
three stripped back, warm and analogue sounding techno-ish cuts unmistakably referring to Detroit in a
reminiscent yet forward thinking way.
Lossless bossmen Mathias Schober and Thomas Herb are big fans - and supporters - of Manuel Tur’s
music. Naturally the excitement level was high when the guys received the Digital Fabrics demos from
Manuel and even went up to ecstatic while listening to the three tunes.
Masterfully stripped back productions, made with attention to all the details and a perfect interplay of
rhythm and sound. These tracks just triggering all the right spots!
Fast forward this EP is now on Lossless and we couldn’t be happier that Manuel agreed on releasing it
with us right away.
We also had a chat with Manuel about the creative process behind Digital Fabrics in which he revealed
that at the time the EP came to life he had just added a new toy at his Islenyo Studios in Essen. Namely
a Korg SQ-1 sequencer which was triggering some of his analogue synths. Over the course of a week
or so those jams culminated in building the backbone of the Digital Fabric EP. By further adding some
euphonic digital pads, Manuel set an antipode that’s blending and supplementing perfectly.
Yours sincerely,
LOSSLESS More

Tracklist:
A1. Per Aspera Ad Astra
A2. Paradise
A3. Mi Amor
B1. Fleeing Into You
B2. Per Aspera Ad Astra (The Club Mix For Gerd But Not By Gerd)
B3. Cocoon Cracking

If you prefer things sweet and concise, here is all you need to know about Morphena and Narciss and their Lingua Erotica release on Running Back: a project of passion made while living across the globe thousands of miles apart from each other while falling in love, sensuality, tenderness, longing, authenticity.
Making waves on the festival and club circuit and meticulous productions like Forbidden Fruit or the Immer Remix for Running Back, Narciss found the perfect partnership with Morphena and their multitalented artistry between DJing, music making and vocal work.
Informed and inspired by a mutual enthusiasm for Italo blueprints, new romantic mannerisms, synth pop poetry and an uncanny knack for subtle and yearning dance floor euphoria (see Paradise and the club version of Per Aspera Ad Astra for further proof). it works like a mix tape or love letter to the listener or any of their adored ones. While the obvious club cuts Mi Amor and Fleeing Into You are sandwiched between the ambience of Per Aspera Ad Astra and Cocoon Cracking, one cannot help to be mesmerized by the coherence and monolithic magnetism of Lingua Erotica.
Captivating, catchy and confident. Here’s to many more.




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12"
Tracklist:
A1. Heartbreaks & XTC
A2. SH-09
A3. H3000
B1. Faith
B2. Time
B3. Sat Morning


The return of the mack. Chris Barratt aka Eagles & Butterflies possess the rare ability in his music to unite a larger-than-life peak time producer personality with the understated production method of underground records, techno pop and a modern Italo twist. Perfectly suited for Running Back, Heartbreaks & XTC is luckily exactly that. The mirror image of Eagles & Butterflies and how to find common ground between polar flairs. Chord happiness, Italo bass lines, arp art, filter magic and side chain stunts. Indispensable to life or any dance floor near you.





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2024 repress

Tracklist:

A1. Beautiful Strangers
A2. Can’t Fix A Broken Heart
B1. When I’m With You ft. Jasper Tygner
B2. False Attraction
B3. Memories Fade

Release Info:
Ever since the release of his masterpiece Winona it’s hard to imagine modern electronic dance music without DJ BORING. A progressive traditionalist DJ BORING finds new ways in old maps. Just like Beautiful Strangers. The lead single to his correspondent debut EP for Running Back illustrates his kaleidoscopic sound aesthetic and refreshing style. Harking back to the aural palette of BORING’s formative years in the early 2000s it manages to bridge infatuation and lovesickness wistfulness and bliss as well sundowns and sunrises dance floors and living rooms – and that is no mean feat.













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Tracklist
A1. Basics (Gerd Janson Re-Edit)
A2. Drivers License (Gerd Janson Re-Edit)
B1. Vibes (Gerd Janson Re-Edit)*
B2. Lost (Gerd Janson Re-Edit)*

The onus of proof regarding deepness is a rather peculiar one. Even if one presses all the right buttons, quotes the correct sources and applies the textbook techniques, often something seems to be amiss. The elusive producer Mute never had that problem. Blessed with a a sound of his own, that seems to stem from within and can be called deep house without the genre’s strait-laced demeanor, his aesthetic includes a distinct feel for boogie and disco tropes. Case in point: Lost. Placed as a B2 it is the secret start of Direct Cuts II and more
prominent on this new edition of a classic Running Back record. Molded into an extended disco version by Gerd Janson with unused parts of the original recording session, it something like a curveball deep house disco song, according to the motto: you and me, we can be like a whole universe! Hard to resist and even harder not to like if you have the slightest interest in Prelude records, Diana Ross songs or Tee Scott mix techniques. Basics, Vibes and Driver’s License push further into the world and musical mindset of Mute.
Originally released in 2006 as the the fourth outing of the label and the second (and his last one to date) of the elusive artist, it is still as remarkable as on its first release. Carefully rescued from the original DAT tapes, all re-edited by Gerd Janson and remastered by Lopazz, it’s available again in a clear and present portraiture of its original intent. Early adopters like Danny Krivit and the Idjut Boys can’t be wrong.



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Tracklist:

A1. Phantazia
A2. 89 Swing
A3. Euphony
B1. Uplift My Spirit
B2. Elevate
B3. Love Tunnel
B4. Siren Tool

The second part in Shan’s warehouse series delivers more of the same – but that’s definitely a great thing, if the dish has a great taste. Like it’s successful predecessor, the tracks don’t re-invent the wheel, but cater to all the nameless spaces and places that made raving in defiant and derelict places fun. There is house that sounds like techno (Elevate) and vice versa. Seasoned with break beats (89 Swing or the Future Sound of London-esque Euphony) or breaks for love (Uplift My Spirit) and even dub sirens, it is almost impossible not to find something to suit the customer’s environment. The main focus of attention might be the jack of all trades called Phantazia. Wouldn’t have sounded out of place at the entertainment series of the same name, it melts proto hardcore harmonics with Soul II Soul type of strings and immediate call for „the action“. And as we all know, that always speaks louder than words.


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2024 repress with new artwork

Tracklist
A. Neutron Dance
A2. Division Ave
B1. Shockzoid
B2. Moonshake Miner

Shortinfo:

You remember that kung fu kid movie, where he had to wash the motorcycles for years and then…whatever, constant dripping wears away the stone. Dublin-Manchester-NYC'S finest Krystal Klear (Cold Tonic, All City, Tooth Pick) has been honing his skills as a dress man for years and also made a name for himself as an expert in all things (electronic) boogie. "The Division" is his dapper debut EP for Running Back. Custom-made club studies shifting between sound factories, hot haciendas, heavenly lagoons and chrome-plated dance floors: fast, slow, hard and soft.
A love letter to dance music written with pink ink. Oh, and there is "Neutron Dance" on it as well…yes, the euphoric fun one. once again: dance!"

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Tracklist

A1. Ricardo Baez - The Age Of Energy
A2. Josh Micky - Imaginarium
B1. BSS - Jannis
B2. Brynjolfur & Storken - Twist
B3. Jonus Eric - Ribbon

Summer and the seventh part of Running Back‘s revered various artist series are here. This time consisting of five tracks across the spectrum of cunning and contemplative dance music. Taking over the a-side duties, Ricardo Baez and Josh Micky demonstrate the uncanny alliance of pianos and Italo bass lines for heavy modern disco hitters: high times, fun stuff. BSS‘ Jannis puts that concept on its head with a different kind of piano track. Hypnotic deep house minus all its cliché-ridden traps. Bryolfur and Running Back mainstay Storken opt for trippy and tricky disco with Twist, while Jonus Eric ticks all the IDM and brain dance boxes with Ribbon.
Easy to swallow and value for money.

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Tracklist

A. Can't Stop
B1. Follow The Disco Ball
B2. Can't Stop (Dub)



Can't Stop .There seems no better way to describe the work, party and music ethic of Solomun. Carrying the mirror ball on his shoulders like Atlas, it is impossible to imagine the modern disco world without his dynamics. While his countless DJ sets give fresh impetus to the many shades of house, techno and their siblings, conversely they are a driving force behind his studio and remix excursions. Can't Stop provides an impressive insight into his musical universe.

Resulting from a rather casual after-dinner-listening-session during a car ride on Ibiza with a zesty Gerd Janson, who coaxed the title track out of Solomun making use of their friendship to full capacity, it is a triptych of direct, functional and free-spirited dance floor approach. After some back and forth in the search of the missing pieces to make it so, Solomun managed to deliver the perfect Running Back peak time record.

While Can't Stop channels UK dance music highs through German engineering values, which makes it perfect for dance hall and car rides (yes, indeed!) alike, its heavy dub is constructed with fearless techno DJs in mind who like new beat excerpts, rave stabs and a lot of bass in equal parts. Follow The Disco Ball leads us back to the aforementioned Greek titan and can be read as a love letter to the genre that can be found in its name. Catchy, compelling and cool, it is a masterclass in user-friendly, yet edgy arrangement and dancing shoe compatibility. We repeat: the perfect Running Back peak time record. Can't Stop, won't stop!


Short: Solomun on Running Back. Dance floor fanatics at work. A triptych of fun, friendship and functionality. Can't Stop channels UK dance music highs through German engineering values. Perfect for dance hall and car rides alike. Its heavy dub is constructed with fearless techno DJs in mind who like new beat excerpts, rave stabs and a lot of bass in equal parts. Follow The Disco Ball can be read as a love letter to the genre that is found in its name. Catchy, compelling and cool, it is a masterclass in user-friendly, yet edgy arrangement and dancing shoe compatibility. The perfect Running Back peak time record. Can't Stop, won't stop! More

Tracklist:

A1. Dance Of Enjoyment
A2. Let The Music Take Control
A3. Let The Music Take Control (DJ Tool)
B1. Change Of Heart
B2. Digital Illusion
B3. Digital Illusion (Bonus Beats)




Finally, it‘s happening: the „other“ Gerd appears on Running Back. Not counting in his remix for Losoul‘s Open Door and not to be confused with the label owner Gerd Janson. Based in the Netherlands and strongly associated with the Clone complex, Gerd has been releasing countless tracks and records since the dawn of the nineties. A true child of the „techno“ Zeitgeist back then, he is keeper of a dozen monikers, project names and joint ventures that tend to connect the dots between house and techno, functionality and avantgarde electronics. Gerd‘s frame of mind is second to none, when it comes to sound research, inspiration and imagination.
For Running Back he decided to put his own spin on some of the label’s signature dishes.
The opener Dance of Enjoyment is exactly that. Based on a cleared sample from Shakira by Quinton Madlala and imported by early South African kwaito and house, it is exactly that. Life-affirming dance-floor fun or pogo time for piano people.

Let the Music Take Control dials the peak time slightly back to being a party starter with its retrofuturistic speak and spell command and some evergreen breakbeats. An additional DJ tool allows to spread the gospel elsewhere, too.

Speaking of which, the flipside deals with that in the realm of an Italian influenced theme park. Sitting neatly between the disco and the house appendix of “italo“, Change Of Heart and Digital Illusion are sugar frosted and masterful produced versions of a style that might never go out of fashion. Earnest characters might be happy with the included bonus beats on their own. All’s well that ends well: Gerd and Running Back are here to save a party near you!






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2024 Repress

Tracklist:
A1. Lonely Planet A2. Trance Encounters A3. Today ft. Sui Zhen
A4. Warp Odyssey B1. Voices B2. Kingdom Animalia B3. Healing Feeling

Info:
The eye of the storm: welcome to Tornado Wallace's debut album! The accumulation of about four years of work, with tracks written in Berlin and Melbourne, 'Lonely Planet' is nothing like you may have expected from the Australian expat. No stranger to fans and followers of ESP Institute, Beats in Space and Music From Memory's sister Label Second Circle, Tornado Wallace's strain of releases so far merged functionality with a musical playfulness that led him to find himself as one of the producer's behind José Padilla's International Feel album. Here, he leaves the needs of the dance floor behind in order to create a magical mystery tour de trance into his and our inner jungle.

How about some references? New Age sounds meet new wave melodies, Grace Jones runs into the Dire Straits at Compass Point, while a Korg Mini Pops and a Roland CR78 make amends for Sly & Robbie's absence, Michael Mann pictures Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness', Robert Rauschenberg tries his luck at naturalism and an imagined Wally Badarou echoes through all of it.

Sandwiched between the title track and the yearning beauty of the album's final point 'Healing Feeling', you get all of that as well as collaborations with and contributions of NO ZU, David Hischfelder and the voice of Sui Zhen on 'Today', who would easily make Anna Domino take her proverbial hat off.

Tornado Wallace created an album that supersedes the requirements and expectations of a debut. Like a lost Island Records or a never released Made to Measure album, 'Lonely Planet' soundtracks notions and ideas that recall the nostalgic future in the past as much as it looks ahead.
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12"
Tracklist

A1. Crane Song (HnH Mix)
A2. Deranged Self Therapy
B1. Crane Song (Dopanin Mix)
B2. Centro Di Gravita
B3. Any Plan(t)s This Weekend



Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is always a reliable source for a good quote: "We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden." Sure as death, there is an excerpt of his that states the opposite. In the case of Robert Dietz, it holds true. Since his first appearance on Running Back in 2009 (Forward Snipping), he did a marvelous job staying on his toes as a producer and DJ.
Rejuve-Nation showcases his talent in various alleys of electronic (dance) music with Crane Song being the prime cut here. You will get exposed to proggy house with an intelligent brush in two slightly different mixes. Imagine if Euro dance went to get a college degree or a bumper car floor and you are almost there: an almost irresistible sing a long without lyrics.
If you need help afterwards, Deranged Self Therapy is exactly what you need. IDM meets new wave drums, poignant synths mix with an upbeat hook to create a ballet piece for lovesick robots.
Centro Di Gravita reconnects those qualities with the aforementioned Crane Song ones, while giving it an acid spin, before the ambient salts of Any Plan(t)s This Weekend closes the EP off like a confident sketch for the end of a beautiful summer. A bouquet of bangers for different needs.

Short: One Rejuve-Nation EP under a groove with Robert Dietz' return on Running Back. Proggy meets acid house, IDM leanings mix with stylistic devices of new wave and extra special ambient aerobatics round out the EP. Special attention goes to Crane Song and its peak time perfection. A bouquet of bangers for different needs.





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Tracklist
A1. Entity
A2. Typhoon
B1. Love Is All I Need
B2. Rampage

New Krystal Klear on Running Back. No re-inventing of the wheel here. Sometimes it is what it is. But let‘s hear it from the artist himself:

“ No notes or real inspiration behind this EP. Rb128 consists of four tracks that I made to keep gigs coming and the calendar full - In a time where artists are being forced to DJ like maniacs to keep the electricity running to make more quickfire records (except for Gerd who loves it).

These pure dance tracks try to mix the cocktail between the trendy trance that people like now and the good house records they liked yesterday.

Standard procedure: Melancholic chords over processed drums and breakdowns that make waiting for a train to pull in more bearable.“
But yes, it is still and will always be pretty damn good dance music (Gerd does a high kick and claps his hands)! Love is all we need.

Short:

New Running Back by the ever-reliable Krystal Klear.

Standard procedure: Melancholic chords over processed drums and breakdowns that make waiting for a train to pull in more bearable.“
But yes, it is still and will always be pretty damn good dance music! Love is all we need.






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mini-LP

Tracklist

A1. Baerhit
A2. Do You Like That?
A3. Breathe
B1. Want Me
B2. Distant City Tranceport
B3. Sometimes I Miss You

Raphael Schön might still be best known for his Fiesta 2000 hit, but that ought to be changed with Heart Times. Hailing from Augsburg in Germany, RS represents a young generation of producers that draw their own deductions from golden days (insert your favorite era here) of dance music. Respectful and without handling it with kid gloves, he manages to inject fun, freshness and a fertile imagination into these sometimes dusty topics.

Conceived during a very emotional turbulent time for Schön, it is a showcase of his whole spectrum as a producer. Imagine a singer-songwriter coming back from his first rave. So, on this six-track EP for Running Back, his sound ranges from classic house (Baerhit) to crooner prog (Sometimes I Miss You), with mellow trance (Distant City Tranceport) and jiggy hits (Do You Like That) in-between. A dance hall unifying and colorful bouquet of flowers that does not shy away from vocals, emotional undertones and most of all bass and hook lines to die for. Schön means beautiful in German and that’s what this mean record is. Do you like it like that?







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Tracklist

A1. Reality
A2. Fantasy
B1. Puzzle
B2. Halle Weissensee

Halle Weissensee (or Weißensee if you wish) starts where Sascha Funke’s last Ep for Running Back stopped. Mesmerizing house and techno music that interweaves classic forms with modern means and looks through the lenses of nostalgia with an open mind.
The Halle was a former engine plant in Berlin that got converted into a rave areal for the now legendary Mayday raves and one of the birthplaces and leading spots of the nineties. Coincidentally and unknowingly, 1993’s winter edition was attended by Funke and Gerd Janson and a conversation about it spawned this record. Don’t be mislead: this is not a retro rave fest, but an ode to the esprit of the times, the possibilities if an envisioned future and maybe most of all an afterglow. While Reality (sounding like a Relief record if the label would have been a topic at Bauhaus university) and the warped bleepiness of Halle Weissensee itself come closest to the actual sound aesthetic of that very night, Fantasy invokes the language of contemplative deep house from vintage New York, while Puzzle evokes a notion of what the same thing could be with the prefix progressive instead. Reality often falls short behind fantasy, but once in a while both complement each other very well.


Short: Halle Weissensee is Sascha Funke’s second Ep for Running Back. Named after the legendary rave warehouse, its four tracks far from being a retro rave. Mesmerizing house and techno music that interweaves classic forms with modern means and looks through the lenses of nostalgia with an open mind. An ode to the jackin’ Relief sound meets bleep tracks, contemplative deep house and progressive hypnotism.





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Tracklist

A1. Playin’
A2. Bodies
B1. Feel This
B2. Call Of The Void

Partiboi69 strikes poses, chords and hot irons. Australia’s spiciest export since INXS’s front man is a sensation on many (meta-)levels. Musically, aesthetically and hedonistically exhilarating, the man’s man shows his sensitive side on Running Back. Four tracks answer the Call of the Void with a showcase of sounds and moods that are as much informed by the rules of old school dance music (Bodies) as they draw inspiration from classic rave closing tracks (Playin’), plangent pop (Feel This) and a former new romantics band that just discovered house music pre-internet (Call of the Void): surprisingly serious and simultaneously not-so-serious. Composed and executed with serious songwriting skills and an uncanny feel for the aural world of Running Back Records. A mutual pleasure, indeed.

Short: Partiboi69 strikes poses, chords and hot irons. Showing his sensitive side for Running Back with four tracks that are as much informed by the rules of old school dance music (Bodies) as they draw inspiration from classic rave closing tracks (Playin’), plangent pop (Feel This) and a former new romantics band that just discovered house music pre-internet (Call of the Void). A sensation on many meta-)levels and a mutual pleasure, indeed.




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Pejzaz (aka Bartosz Kruczynski) returns with a captivating new collage album. Divided into two records LIST I (set out to be released end of september) & LIST II (scheduled for end of November), it delves into the realm of 90s/Y2K Eastern European CD releases. Employing hundreds of samples, Pejzaz sculpts a mesmerizing and distinctive body of work.

LIST I, bathed in sun-drenched chords, seamlessly blends pop-rock guitars, soulful drums, and dreamy, pastoral folk elements with minimal music and ambient textures, reminiscent of Baltic Beat (the Polish incarnation of Balearic Music).

Notably, this marks Pejza's first foray into a fully instrumental album. Although devoid of lyrics, the bittersweet blend of samples infuses the music with a profoundly Polish essence, further enhancing its distinctive allure.

Tracklist:

A1 List I
A2 Szepty
A3 Mikrokosmos
A4 Czwarty Wymiar
A5 Fata Morgana
A6 Cargo
A7 Directions

B1 Regu?y Gry
B2 Barwa I
B3 Barwa II
B4 Barwa III
B5 Barwa IV
B6 Barwa V

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Tracklist
A1. KiNK - Machine Funk
A2. Session Victim & Iron Curtis - Abalone (Gerd Janson Edit)
B1. Genius of Time - Network Labyrinth
B2. Katerina - Sincerely, G
B3. Robert Dietz - Isn’t It Nice
C1. Roman Flügel - Feel The Heat (String Mix)
C2. Dinky - This Ain’t No
C3. Bella Boo - L.A. Magic
D1. Tiger & Woods - Lonely Toad
D2. Todd Osborn - Friendly


Shortinfo:
When Bandcamp announced that they will be holding a special fundraiser on June 19th „that is specifically focused on racial justice, equality, and that they will donate their „share of revenues that day to the NAACP Legal Defence Fund“, we thought to put out a special sampler that contributes to that cause. All profits of the sales of „Music for the NAACP“ will go exactly there. Due to the lack of time, it might seemed knocked together, but old and new friends, from near and far alike did their best, to set it up. So, special thanks to everyone involved: especially to Lopazz at Mixmastering, Heidelberg, Rand Muzik Leipzig and the SST cutting house in Frankfurt, who did their part to also make this available on a 2x12“ compilation (same destination for its profits). Thank you for listening, helping and donating.

Sincerely,

Gerd Janson

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Bursting into the summer with a vibrant and dynamic debut album, Energy Exchange Ensemble (EX Ensemble), assume their position as innovators of contemporary organically engineered dance music inspired by collaboration and that "special sauce" born from improvised jam-style musicianship. Long-time collaborators and pioneers of Melbourne's indefinable underground sound through collectives like 30/70 and Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange, Lewis Moody and Ziggy Zeitgeist, reunite on their latest project, EX Ensemble. Energy Exchange Records Vol 1. pays homage to the transcultural projects curated by iconic label, ECM, capturing the impassioned spirit of spontaneity.

- First project of Energy Exchange Ensemble, Energy Exchange Records in-house band
- Extensive Global Promo by Gilles Peterson, Tom Ravenscroft, Zakia (NTS), Gilles Secretsundaze


Tracklist:

1. Lime Green Skies ft. Oscar Jerome
2. Art Make Luv / Brighter Star ft. Allysha Joy
3. On My Toes ft. CC Dance Orchestra
4. Obana ft. Eric Owusu (Zeitgeist 808 RMX)
5. East Moon
6. Smiling Down on Me ft. Allysha Joy & Cody Currie

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Format: Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:
A1. I need to know
A2. Do you think about me
A3. Freddie’s groove
B1. Phantom feat. The Potash Twins
B2. Endless life
B3. When we last met

Release Info:
Crackazat & Heist present: “Senses”. A stunning mini album that sees the artist deliver a heartwarming perspective on contemporary electronic
music
On “Senses”, we see the pure talent of Crackazat come to life like never before. We’ve all danced to “Alfa” or his most recent hit on Heist “Demucha” and
have heard his venture into the more poppy side of things with his 2022 album ‘Evergreen’ on Freerange. “Senses” however, is on another level. Crackazat
takes you on a sonic journey exploring his musical personality with live keys, vocals, bass and production all coming from his studio in Uppsala, Sweden. The
jazzy horns that are featured throughout are recorded by Adeev and Ezra Potash, better known as the Potash twins. The duo took a sidestep from their
recordings with John Legend, Robert Glasper and even Diplo to dive into this project with Crackazat and help him deliver arguably his best work to date.
The 6-track album starts off with the low-slung groove of ‘I need to know’. The whole atmosphere is warm, dreamy and seems to be written to lift your spirits,
no matter where you are in life. Plucked strings, arpeggios and long horn notes give this song its energy, which is subtly supported by lo-fi drums and sparse
bass licks.
“Do you think about me”, keeps the energy tight with a lovely drum groove and a sparse bass section. From the first note of the track, you get the feeling like
the energy could change any moment. Halfway through this is exactly what happens, when uplifting keys and a buzzing lead take control of the track. The
string arrangement is subtle enough to never overshadow the other instrumentation, but simply adds a beautiful layer to a track that’s already filled with
emotion. It’s all smiles when the energy of this track is set loose!
If “Do you think about me” is Crackazat in pop mode, “Freddie’s Groove” is Crackazat in full-on jazz mode. The nod to Freddie Hubbard is clear, and
Crackazat cleverly takes ideas from both the jazz legend and his legendary French sampler, Pepe Bradock for this track. The horns are deep and moody, the
groove is jazz-house at its best and Crackazat’s soft vocals have the perfect amount of fragility to fit the groove. The changeover into a stabby synth section
halfway through the track is a subtle reminder from the skilled producer that – even with all these musical elements – he can direct you to the front of the
dancefloor with the twist of a note.
“Phantom” sees Crackazat move into a shuffling Latin-dance vibe. Here, the song reaches its full potential through the horn section, so it’s only fitting that this
is the feature track for the Potash Twins. The Latin rhythms are lush, the key progression is on point and the energy on this track just keeps on going with
layers and layers of horns, powerful vocal chops, and subtle but effective percussion changeovers.
“Endless life” is a track that feels like it’s building up momentum with every repetition. Whether it’s the broken beat groove, the offbeat keys or the sparse
horn hits, chord hits or leads, there’s a certain energy in this track that takes a hold of you and simply doesn’t let go.
The outro “When we last met” is built around vibey drunk keys and a downtempo hip-hop groove. There’s a hint of old school D’angelo in this track and you
can clearly hear the artist feels at ease with the path he’s taking the listener on. It’s a perfect ending to a record that showcases the beautiful world that
Crackazat has crafted through his compositions and one thing is for sure: This is an album we will all keep coming back to for a long time to come.
Yours Sincerely,
Maarten & Lars More

Tracklist

A1-FEZ
A2-QAM
B1-TSC
B2-SEZ

Release Info:
In the constant state of flux that house and techno are in since their inception, Berlin’s Sascha Funke is at once a fixture and an emblem of the city’s transformations. Probably best-known for his work on BPitch, Kompakt or the evergreen MZ, Funke’s EP for Running Back is an amalgamation of sounds, influences and atmospheres. Subdued rave euphoria, robotic disco-influenced techno-pop and hints of Berlin’s long gone „Dubmission“ party ethics get re-arranged, extracted and reconfigured with „German engineering“ values.
Take the ritual QAM for instance. Using a sample and the legendary morse melody of the weather forecast at the end of each „Tagesschau“ and putting it in a completely different context, is a prime example of a free-form approach to making music and making nostalgia future-proof.
That also holds true for the rest of the EP. While titles like FEZ (Freizeit- und Erholungszentrum) or SEZ (Sport- und Erholungszentrum) refer to lost places in East Berlin, the tracks are anything but. Yearning, precisely programmed and full of joie de vivre at the same time, they all lock into and complement each other. So much, that you will find a new favorite with every listen.





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Territories: Worldwide no restrictions

Format Notes: 2023 reissue, 140g vinyl

Track List:

A1. Manhattan Skyline 4:27
A2. Mysteries Of The World 5:27
A3. Tell Me Why 3:57
A4. Metamorphosis 5:16
--
B1. Fortune Teller 6:08
B2. Old San Juan 4:27
B3. Thank You Miss Scott 4:14
B4. In The Shadow 3:37

Release Notes:

Mysteries Of The World is the stunning final studio album from legendary Philly supergroup MFSB. Expertly co-written and produced with the mighty Dexter Wansel, it features the untouchable, sparkling masterpiece "Mysteries Of The World". The whole album is truly exquisite; a stylish, classy collection of pure Philly soul and orchestral jazz-funk.

MFSB, an acronym for Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, was formed by producers Gamble & Huff of Philadelphia International Records. The band's roots can be traced back to the house band at the legendary Sigma Sound Studios, where they played on numerous hit records by artists like The O'Jays, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes and The Stylistics. Mysteries Of The World comprises slick jazz-funk grooves, mostly penned by Wansel, who produced a fair chunk of the album in a similar style to his space-funk records. MFSB's smooth sound is retained but it receives a fresh, elegant and jazzy upgrade. While this album is as mellow as the rest of the latter-period MFSB recordings, it never forgets the group's soul music underpinnings.

Swaggering, well-timed horn blasts, sweeping strings and a percolating, hard thumping slap-bassline combine to devastating effect on amazing opener "Manhattan Skyline". It's a sexy mid-tempo instrumental which sets us up nicely for what follows. Essays could be written analysing the perfection of title track. Arguably the finest jazz-funk instrumental ever made, it's absolutely magnificent. Featuring musicianship of the highest calibre, the band play with their trademark tight discipline, cooking up a syncopating rhythm with an array of exploratory keyboard riffs wrapped around a punchy bassline sent from heaven. It sounds like house music, it's that ahead of its time. The string intro is sumptuous, hypnotic and divine and that's all before the beat hits. The track fuses classical, jazz and funk into a musical journey that you never want to end. Absolutely flawless, it's a dramatic disco dancefloor killer.

Says Dexter Wansel himself: "You know, of all the songs I wrote/produced/arranged for MFSB, this is for me the most different. I think it's an experiment in rhythmic, soft sonic synth and live string and harp combinations. I composed it in an effort to blend a funky groove, along with synthesis, and orchestral sounds. There are 3 synthesizers: Oberheim 4 voice, Polymoog, and of course Arp 2600v. And, as I remember, I recorded the track with the rhythm section, string, harp and flute players first. Then I added synthesis."

The profound elegance remains in abundance on the slinky, harp-laced "Tell Me Why"; Carla Benson's beautiful voice truly shines on this sophisticated cut. The side closes out in dramatic style with the string-drenched "Metamorphosis". It's a staccato, Blaxploitation groove workout featuring wah-wah guitar, creeping basslines, rich horn solos and soulful vocals drifting in and out of the mix. The bouncy, irrepressible "Fortune Teller" opens the B side in the bass-heavy orchestral funk style before the beautiful "Old San Juan" glides in, a Balearic-adjacent track with intricate arrangements, building its mellow soul groove around an atypical flamenco guitar hook. Melancholy, guitar-led instrumental "Thank You Miss Scott" is a real highlight, with gorgeous flute, string and percussive elements whilst closer "In the Shadow" works an otherworldly synth line into its bossa nova groove.

An essential record for fans of Philly soul and groovy jazz-funk, Mysteries Of The World was mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis and cut by Cicely Ralston for Alchemy at AIR Studios. The stunning artwork, the work of renowned illustrator Robert Giusti, was restored at Be With HQ to round out this beautiful reissue.


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Format: Vinyl 2LP (Limited Full Cover)

Track list :

A1 The entrance
A2 Not so different (ft. LYMA)
A3 City of all
A4 Sonder
B1 Gonna getya
B2 Orbit
B3 Looking up (ft. Allysha Joy)
C1 Feel the same
C2 Roselane (ft. Fouk)
C3 Returning
D1 Humming harmonies (ft. LYMA)
D2 Bent with funk
D3 Encounters

Release Info:
Makèz have come a long way since they first sneaked into Amsterdam’s studio 80 at the age of 17 to hand over their demos to Dam Swindle. Those demos led to their debut EP ‘Different planets’ on Heist in 2019 which gained major support from artists like Seth Troxler and Chez Damier. Quickly after, they signed two records on New York based label Let’s Play House. Fast forward two years, and here we are: the release of their debut album “City of all”.

"City of all” shows an admirable level of sophistication and matureness and effortlessly bridges genres across its 13 tracks. You can feel the amount of thought that has been put into this record, with songs happily blending into each other as Makèz submerge themselves in their concept of accidental encounters, inclusiveness and what it means to live in a city like Amsterdam.

On “City of all”, Makèz bring together all the musical influences they’ve picked up in their life as music fans, clubbers and art students. The jazz-funk of opening track “The entrance” feels breezy, casual almost, like the freeform rhythms that are played in a jazz club during soundcheck. That energy also oozes from “Not so different”, which features the smooth vocals of LYMA. There’s a hint of the house-meets-R’n B vibe that made Anderson .Paak the star that he is now. The song is brilliantly funky and shows the songwriting and arrangement talent of Makèz, who cleverly use pop & soul cues to create one of the album’s highlights.

What follows is 4 cuts ranging from the syncopated Balearic funk of “Orbit”, the strings of album title track “City of all”, the organ-led jam “Gonna getya" and the downbeat “Sonder”. Allysha Joy -best known for performing in Melbourne Hip Hop collective 30/70 - is featured on the deep and jazzy cut “Looking up”. If Makèz and Allysha are all looking up, it’s clear they’re seeing the same thing. These kindred spirits perfectly complement each other on this track, where the deep bass, warm harmonies and jazzy percussion prove to be a perfect foundation for Allysha’s rhymes.

Is it an album all about jazz and soulful tracks to listen to at home? Far from that. There’s a nice bit of dance floor-oriented tracks, where the distorted filter funk of “Roselane” featuring Fouk proves to be a highlight along with what is arguably the heaviest cut of the album: “Bent with funk”.

In an EP context, these house tracks would surely do their work, but they really come to life in this album format. No compromise has been made to storytelling and the house tracks all play their part while still standing their ground as powerful club tracks. It’s the expert production and smart arrangement that gives this album its casually funky feel. On “City of all”, Makèz showcase their remarkable talent for writing an album that goes to so many different places, but most of all, just really feels like home.

Enjoy the music,
Maarten & Lars
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Tracklist

A1. Lucky Charm - Main Mix
A2. Lucky Charm - Dub Mix
A3. Lucky Charm - Perc Mix
B1. Luv Armour
B2. Whatever This Is
B3. Film 4

Magically delicious: Lucky Charm completes Roman Flügel's personal -feel-good-tetralogy on Running Back. Joining Garden Party, D.I.S.C.O. and Mega for a quadrophony of fun, it is piano house at the core of the matter. Of course, Roman Flügel wouldn't be himself, if he would work carelessly. Imagine it prepared through the disciplines of molecular gastronomy. In a dystopian world on the edge of information overkill, this is exactly what one needs to relish temporary relaxation and the joys of life again. Simply put: arps, bass lines, tribal drums, brief melodies and pizzicato illuminate the topic from different sides and in different versions.

Its correspondent Luv Armour is a piece of jewelry that's doing the splits: house, new wave, synth pop and some melancholy for the finishing touches.

If you are looking for less action Whatever That Is offers you a slow dance. Looking for unheard and unconscionable connections, it twists and turns between Can-like sequences, what Underground Resistance dubbed Afrogermanic and some unexpected tunnel, before it ends where it started out

Finally, Film 4 is the final dish of this lush meal. Referring to the other Film tracks on the Mega 12" and created during the hard and dark times of closed amusement party parks, it is full of yearning. Music for your inner cinema.


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Tracklist
A1. Yellow Theme (Song)
A2. In Love
A3. Together We Will Be Fine
A4. Rain On Me
B1. Free
B2. Don’t Stop
B3. Time To Go
B4. NT4 outro

Shortinfo:

Let’s go out! A suggestion that might sound like an absurdity in current times, but feels like the true promise of Bella Boo’s debut EP on Running Back. The Studio Barnhus affiliate refines and elevates her bright, genial and dissenting take on deep house into something greater than its parts.
What was supposed to be an album with features and collaborations was turned into an introspective solo-practice by Covid-19 and subsequently into this rich 8-track-EP. A writer’s block and the pitfalls of the aforementioned deep house genre were overcome with the help of Axel Boman’s knowledge of football philosophy and a 140bpm tempo advice. So, everything fell in its right place.
„Let’s Go Out“ is like the gateway into a wonderful coherent musical universe and an entertaining listening experience. Imaginative and sparkling, tender-hearted as well as bouncing when it needs to be. Bella’s EP is as much of a tribute to the UK scene that inspired her over the years as it’s entirely her own and distinctive thing. Like a perfect mixtape, it ebbs and flows, and once you reached its finish, it makes you want to start again – or to go out.


Short version: Bella Boo’s bright and genial debut EP on Running Back. Eight tender-hearted, imaginative and bouncing tracks that are as much of a tribute to the UK Scene that inspired her over the years, as they are the gateway into a wonderful coherent musical universe that is Bella’s own entirely.
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