Following on from his standout debut EP with Steel City Dance Discs back in 2021, G-TOWN’s gold-toothed Prince is now set to be crowned with the arrival of Fallen Angel, KETTAMA’s second EP via Steel City Dance Discs. Fly Away XTC is the diamond-plated lead-track from the EP, with anticipation for its release reaching new heights after a successful series of tests on the tour. The track blatantly showcases KETTAMA’s defining characteristics, as the producer bleeds ethereal vocals and masterful percussion into the fold, while the featured G-TOWN remix is driven by a series of piercing rave stabs and gut-hurdling bass. The otherworldly nature of Fly Away XTC is set to be further echoed on screen too, with a music video directed by Hugh Mulhern, who has previously worked for the likes of Fontaines DC and Hak Baker, set to explore themes of extraterrestrial beings and pagan practices within a rural setting in KETTAMA’s native Ireland. Having been released as a single two months prior to the full EP, Feeling Emotions ignited the flame for Fallen Angel, ultimately laying the foundations for the eagerly-anticipated project that would follow. The track again reinforces the unfailing relationship between entrancing vocal samples and a boundless drum pattern, something that is then echoed and mastered in the colossal closing track, Found My Angel. More

Fresh off his explosive Boiler Room performance in Liverpool, the dust is yet to settle from the electronic eruptions caused by GTOWN head-honcho and energy inducer, KETTAMA. Namely, the damage caused by his latest armoured artillery; ‘GTOWN004’, a radioactive EP with devastatingly euphoric consequences. ‘Samba Soccer 2001’ is the track that opens the door to ‘GTOWN004’, as we’re welcomed by an anonymous voice that insults the listener; a perfect introduction to a project that is wildly unapologetic in its character, and utterly ruthless in its delivery. Released as the first single from the ‘GTOWN004’ EP, ‘Samba Soccer 2001’ has already been greatly received by the GTOWN faithful, and sets the tone for what is arguably KETTAMA’s most complete, and anticipated project yet. The EP starts as it means to go on, as KETTAMA drops another bombshell with ‘Blitz Zuruck.’ With a euphoric soundscape which the producer partners with a punishing bassline, this track is deeply nostalgic, embodying a time-capsule in the thick of a modern rave-renaissance. Further elements of revamped rave-nostalgia are seen in ‘Slaap Lekker’, before we’re taken deep into the belly of the Galway beast with the atomic ‘GTOWN IN EFFEKT’, and finally killed off with the ‘Rock Da Cliffe Mix’ of ‘Blitz Zuruck.’ ‘GTOWN004’ features an ungodly blend of sounds, and in the process, creates an atmosphere that is both ecstatic enough for heaven, and sinister enough for hell. Purpose built for dance-floor destruction, KETTAMA’s infusion of stomach-churning bass, hypnagogic synthesisers, soulful vocals and contagious drum patterns result in an utterly pure, addictive sound. From Galway to Vienna, Liverpool to New York, the track will be road tested amongst an armoured artillery of records, with dance-floor devastation an inevitable outcome. With his name boldly imprinted on the lineups for the likes of AVA Festival in Belfast, CRSSD in Miami, 121 Festival in New Zealand and Terminal V Festival in Edinburgh, KETTAMA’s worldwide domination of sound-systems continues. More

Following on from his standout debut EP with Steel City Dance Discs back in 2021, G-TOWN’s gold-toothed Prince is now set to be crowned with the arrival of Fallen Angel, KETTAMA’s second EP via Steel City Dance Discs. Fly Away XTC is the diamond-plated lead-track from the EP, with anticipation for its release reaching new heights after a successful series of tests on the tour. The track blatantly showcases KETTAMA’s defining characteristics, as the producer bleeds ethereal vocals and masterful percussion into the fold, while the featured G-TOWN remix is driven by a series of piercing rave stabs and gut-hurdling bass. The otherworldly nature of Fly Away XTC is set to be further echoed on screen too, with a music video directed by Hugh Mulhern, who has previously worked for the likes of Fontaines DC and Hak Baker, set to explore themes of extraterrestrial beings and pagan practices within a rural setting in KETTAMA’s native Ireland. Having been released as a single two months prior to the full EP, Feeling Emotions ignited the flame for Fallen Angel, ultimately laying the foundations for the eagerly-anticipated project that would follow. The track again reinforces the unfailing relationship between entrancing vocal samples and a boundless drum pattern, something that is then echoed and mastered in the colossal closing track, Found My Angel. More

Making their debut appearance on Steel City Dance Discs, Clouds, an irrefutable powerhouse of sound consisting of Liam Robertson and Calum Macleod, exercise their intensely unapologetic musical personality with their latest venture with Mass Hysteria, for SCDD040. The Scottish duo have become recognised for their heavenly balance of euphoric soundscapes, ladened with break-neck percussion, ecstasy-induced melodies and rupturing drum patterns. All of these highly characteristic elements are found in Mass Hysteria; an EP that highlights the hard-edged nature of Clouds’ ever-evolving style. Mass Hysteria is a five-piece project that is nothing short of atomic. Typically energy-fuelled, the duo coordinate a masterful blend of hard-hitting, four-to-the-floor basslines: a seemingly perfect marriage for an EP that sets the listener deep into a cosmic whirlwind of electronic emotions. More

Steel City Dance Discs presents the ‘Wonder’ EP from fast-rising Italian artist Matisa. Fresh and filled with spirit, Matisa kicks off the EP with the transcendent, IDM-meets-Bingo Beats energy of ‘Brilliantine’, where twisted modulations fuse in harmony with angelic abstract vocals. Her original ‘Eyeliner’ is a euphoric breakbeat hardcore stomper, whilst Mall Grab’s take on the same track goes in harder with jacking drums, ecstatic rave stabs and menacing bass. Closing the EP is ‘Lip Plumper’ – a hypnotic stripped-back house cut which nods to UKG. This EP represents a significant moment in Matisa’s musical journey, as she evokes a combination of discovering yourself through creative expression with losing yourself on the dancefloor. More

Egyptian-Australian DJ/producer moktar announces his second boundary-pushing five track EP, ‘Immigrant’. An expressive and considered journey that combines his Middle Eastern heritage and influential club sounds in one. ‘Immigrant’ sees moktar continue to bring traditional Arabic instrumentation into the club by weaving samples like polyrhythmic drumming and the Arabic Oud into experimental club music which has captured the attention of many tastemakers. Giant Swan, Anz, Tash LC, Raji Rags, Jamie XX, Bonobo, Groove Armada, Hudson Mohawke, Mary Anne Hobbs and Jamz Supernova all championed his highly favoured self-titled EP in 2021, which topped the Australian community radio charts as a number #1 most played alongside the global support it received. The release represented re-learning the value of his Egyptian heritage following racism and stereotyping growing up. ‘Immigrant’ expands on the story. More

After going AWOL, the elusive DJ Boneyard checks back in with 'Bonestyle' – a six track ruckus of raw techno jaunts. More

As far as debut EP’s go, Life In Exile is a spellbinding introduction to the sounds of CRTB, a producer and DJ whose name is beginning to burn hot on the tongues of punters up and down the land, with good reason. Characterised by pulsating, bass-driven grooves and masterful percussion, Newcastle born, London based CRTB has unveiled a monster of sound with his latest venture, where the producer flexes an ungodly blend of four-to-the-floor basslines, contagious melodies and synths to create a visceral soundscape, infectious enough to cause dance-floor destruction wherever these sounds land. From the pulsating percussion of It Never Ends, to the rattling rapture of Nothing Moves You; a track that erupted in Mall Grab’s Melbourne Boiler Room set, this EP has energy coursing through its veins. This energy fuels the hypnotic sounds of Temper, and the radioactive rhythm of Nature Boy, where CRTB brings fellow heavy-hitter KETTAMA into the fold, resulting in an unforgiving, atomic anthem. Life In Exile is an EP that sees its creator, CRTB, conduct wild, electronic experiments of sound to devastating effect: a sign of things to come from one of Newcastle, aka the Steel City’s most exciting prospects. More

‘Pulse Love/Heaven’s Passage' is the latest EP from Ireland’s Tommy Holohan and is a direct, personal insight into the personality and diversity of the Irish producer. Tommy Holohan joins forces with KETTAMA for the first time and sets a bold precedent for what is another scintillating project from the young heartthrob. More

Somewhere in the deep blue Caribbean Sea, between reality and illusion, lies an island: X-Coast. More

For Steel City Dance Discs Volume 28, we’re honoured to be welcoming Collector – the deep-rooted output of Jason Campbell of Newcastle, Australia AKA the Steel City. Uncompromising, bone-crushing, Industrial sonics built entirely on hardware. The EP titled ’Pacing The Perimeter’ serves up a 5-track onslaught of metallic havoc. Harsh, droned excursions on the A-side and slammers on the flip! More

Nite Fleit steers a course through electro, breaks, techno and acid to deliver a debut LP made up of two distinct halves, exploring contrasting emotional states and new sonic territories. Shifting between styles, emotions and eras with ease and hiding surprises around every corner, Nite Fleit owes her rapid rise as a DJ and producer to an ability to keep dancers perpetually on their toes. Coming up through Sydney’s underground club scene, the Australia-born, London-based artist started producing as recently as 2016, making her production debut for Steel City Dance Discs in 2018. Since then she has appeared on labels across the globe including Return to Disorder, Planet Euphorique, Unknown To The Unknown, International Chrome, Acid Avengers and her own imprint, Atomic Alert. ‘Day Fleit / Nite Fleit’ is an LP with no front or back cover - depending on the listener’s intended destination the album’s two discs can be listened to in either order. ‘Overload’ wastes little time in setting the tone for ‘Day Fleit’. Densely layered, soaring arpeggiated acid lines twist and dance around Nite Fleit’s spoken lyrics, inspired by Delia Derbyshire and Barry Bermange’s iconic 1964 ‘The Dreams’ sound collage. On ‘Like I Used To Be’ warm, dreamy chords are decorated with sparkling synth melodies and vocals from Nite Fleit’s friend and fellow producer Mesmé. From the triumphant EBM textures of ‘The Flower Dance’, which features a theatric monologue by Partiboi69 reciting an Alan Watts speech, to the video-game pop melodies of ‘Dark End of the Street’ and ‘Morning Song’, on ‘Day Fleit’ Nite Fleit infuses her sound with a new buoyance and musicality. On the flip, those rich colourful harmonies make way for the imposing, mechanical rave energy on punishing percussive techno and electro cuts like ‘Double Digits’ and ‘Nah’. Nite Fleit’s graceful acid lines turn feverish and frenzied on ‘Airs & Graces’ and ‘Paranoid Energy’ - a pair of break-heavy, mutant club tracks fine-tuned for dark and manic basement raves. ‘Bold Poke’ provides a moment of brooding, melodic respite, before ‘Serious Effect’ a cinematic closing electro workout. Across these 12-tracks, taken from a vast pool of demos sketched out over the last two years, Nite Fleit provides a sonic snapshot of swinging emotions and dancefloor yearnings, delivered with uncompromising energy, melody and contrast.

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French dynamo LB aka Labat returns for his second EP on Steel City Dance Discs. The Lyon-based artist delivers another collection of eclectic productions, displaying his trademark ability to source and integrate individuality and soul. Skincare’s title track of the same name is a pure house throwback featuring labat’s trademark punchy 808’s, swirling synths and hypnotic vocal line guaranteed to have you moving on any dancefloor. More

Moktar is a DJ and producer effortlessly combining club and techno with traditional Arabic instrumentation, sampling and producing to emphasise his Egyptian-Australian background. Steel City Dance Discs Volume 25 sees him embrace complex and traditional rhythmic ideas while traversing emotive melodic states. More

Maruwa logs back on to infiltrate the S.C.D.D. network, disrupting systems with a 5-track cluster of interface-melting dance music. The Saint Petersburg programmer re-codes Techno – encrypting it with hypnotic acid lines, dreamy Trance atmospherics and her very own vocal processing on ‘Dvizhenie’. No firewall can stop this complete anatomical takeover. More

Pick your poison! Skream bites down for Steel City Dance Discs Volume 23. The Croydon (London, U.K.) native strikes hard with a 3-track injection of heaving dance floor venom. A motley of pumping rhythms courses through the veins of this EP as he reaches into his diverse repertoire of soundscapes. The record opens up with Doolally – a euphoric House shaker intoxicated with nostalgia. Now in its grip, Space Ghetto swells up with tight breaks and aching bass; the tune is peppered with head nods to early hardcore tropes and a voice recording of Big Miz. Symptoms persist with Drago The Destroyer, which finishes us off with a rapid onslaught of chest thumping kicks and off-kilter synth rushes. More

The X CLUB. beasts have busted out of Brisbane, Australia with Steel City Dance Discs Volume 22. Buckle in as the renegades, known individually as DJ Speed/Jesse Patrick and NORA DRUM, take us on a manic hoon through electro, rave and jungle-informed techno. Although this is only their first vinyl offence, their criminal record is a hefty one. The delinquents are charged with lawless breaks, aggravated synth chaos, verbal sample assault and series of twisted bass infringements. More

Handle with caution: Steel City Dance Discs Volume 21 sees London’s Yazzus carve up a razor-sharp 4-track boost of jacking club music. With a history of mind-bending dance offerings, Yazzus continues the saga – fusing Techno, Footwork and Juke-leaning sounds into a blistering ball of high-energy rave. More

Joey Beltram mega-ultra-classic, ‘Energy Flash’ re-mastered by Matt Colton. Pressed nice and loud on a one sided 12”. E.S.S.E.N.T.I.A.L.!!! (...still after all these years...)

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Tempo Records sublabel TempoCore presents Pugilist & Tamen; with four True To The Core Jungle & Drum and Bass tracks. A diverse quality production with amens, drumfunk and heavy bass ingredients. This beautiful crafted LIMITED EDITION crystal clear vinyl 12? comes in a new designed Tempo Records "Logo" high quality "Kraft" outer sleeve + a white innersleeve. All tracks mastered by Stuart Hawkes of Metropolis Mastering, London. More

Repress!

Basic Spirit welcomes the first out-of-house artist to the label, our dear friend Fantastic Man. A household name at this point, FM hedges the Basic Spirit catalogue into a deeper, more euphoric territory, with four tracks that quite frankly melted our hearts and minds when we heard them. It's a big heads-down record, which gets a big thumbs up from us. More

Tracklisting:
A1 Guau & Bowser - Acid Bits
A2 Guau - Dangerous
B1 Guau - Utopia
B2 Guau - Dystopia

Sales Note
The 83 label is a byword for musical quality, professionalism and hard work. Since its first release in 2016, it has ceaselessly discovered the very best new breakbeat talent and music, becoming what many consider to be the leading label in the genre. For its debut in physical format, the label's head, Raul Bautista, aka GUAU, has produced a self-titled 12" vinyl. It opens with his hit Acid Bits, a collaboration with Bowser that has become one of the genre's most played songs in recent times and is seen as the anthem which kick started the recent revival of the Acid Break sound. The second track on side A is Dangerous, another tune well known to two
step/garage fans, in which a pulse sets the tempo for a sophisticated base line which converses with a range of sound artefacts and the song's lead vocal. It's a treat for the ears in a completely different style from the first track. This is GUAU: capable of charming the listener while showing off his complete mastery of different registers, as is confirmed by his approach to side B. Two progressively emotional break tracks that will transport you to contrasting worlds... his vision of Utopia and Dystopia, in which two opposing ideologies move towards a common goal that somehow conjures up positivity despite all the obstacles faced. Mastered by Simon Davey at the Exchange Vinyl, it is an undoubted masterpiece of the genre in vinyl format. More

The Rhythm Section – raves first super group - consisting of Ellis Dee, Rennie Pilgrim, Newton and Ritchie T. The group disbanded in 1993 after the rise of jungle as the guys didn’t want to go in that direction and felt their job was done in building the rave scene to what it was. But then in 1995 they had a request to reform and tour America as the rave culture was growing out there. So, they did reform, minus Ritchie T, and embark on a rather rave induced tour of the US with all the antics that you would expect from those guys!


They also wanted to make some new music for the tour and The Sequel album was born. Though written in 1995, they guys purposely kept the sound retro, calling upon their knowledge of the late 80s and early 90’s London warehouse scene.


Released originally as a limited edition double album which commands a high price on Discogs, this is the second part of the album – part one being the 180g blue vinyl release on Vinyl Fanatiks last year.


Comin On Strong… More

Tracklisting:
A1 Denham Audio & Swankout - Good Time
A2 Denham Audio & Swankout - Keep On
A3 Denham Audio & Thugwidow - Testing My Patience
B1 Denham Audio Coco Bryce - Close 2 Me
B2 Denham Audio & Swankout - Good Time (RAVETRX remix)

Release Note:
Club Glow co-founder Denham Audio is no stranger to linking up with friends. Running the label alongside fellow breaksmiths Mani Festo, LMajor and Borai, the rave-focused producer has established the imprint as one of a leading name in acid hooks, lairy basslines and whiplash-inducing breakbeats, and here - on Cheeky Sneakers - he readies the release of five varied cuts of lowend pressure and sky-high euphoria alongside Swankout, Thugwidow and Coco Bryce.

'Good Time' does what it says. A cut of happy-hardcore inspired breaks beamed straight from the Midlands; there is just enough headsy energy to keep the chin-stokers entertained, whilst inspiring an emotional, smiling release for those whose infatuations lie closer to ravey keys and Bangface Weekenders. Swankouts second collaboration - 'Keep On' - is a growling slab of screw-face electro and breaks, highlighting both producers' knack for finding the sweet spot between varying forms of UK music - fast, hardcore and dutty, it's a surefire party starter. Thugwidow is introduced on 'Testing My Patience'; the producer has been making a name for himself with some excellent releases on Sneaker Social Club and Circadian Rhythms, and here he and Denham Audio combine on a chugging steamroller of malfunctioning, soulful riddims.

It's a dreamy meet on 'Close 2 Me' - Coco Bryce recently collaborated with Amy Dabbs on an excellent jungle EP which received support from BBC Radio 1 and more, and here the Netherlands produce brings his native hardcore spirit to the surface on a pitched-vocal cut of jungle-techno.

Seeing out the release is a remix from emerging producer RAVETRX, who has recently enjoyed sessions on Rinse FM and NTS alongside Roni and Hooversound Recordings co-label head Sherelle. More

THUGWIDOW & Bruised Skies land on Hooversound with a new EP. “music for everybody, to think to, to dance to.” The 12th release on the Hooversound imprint sees THUGWIDOW and Bruised Skies come together for ‘Blimey’ (HOO12), cultivating an evolving new sound: a dark and deep soundscape - ready to immerse, whether on the dance floor or at home. The release also features two remixes from Denham Audio and Response which will be available on the digital version only. THUGWIDOW is the ambient jungle project of Alex Lowther-Harris, who’s sound is a formation of tastes, otherworldly guidance and obligation, evolving organically from nothing more than an adolescent love rebirthed in a new millennium. Bruised Skies (Matthew Heywood) creates layered, visual music that captures a melancholic isolated landscape, oceans of sound lapping against shores; guiding the listener. With previous releases on Blank Editions, Intervention and Astral Black his solo music is a cross between season 3 of Twin Peaks and John Carpenter’s experimental scores; beautifully dark, bleak and isolated in its journey throughout. More

The first EP on Note Variation was prepared by a debut producer, but by no means a newcomer to the broken beats. He brings you closer to the savor of orthodox mid-tempo breakbeat in the British style, inspired by the subtractive synthesis of the eternal classics of Roland, such as SH-101, TB-303, TR-808, TR-909.

Alexander (the real name of Subtraxive) was inspired by the latest music species of the early 00s. Each track is a proven ascetic antidote to the hybrid jumble of genres, but at the same time organically combines with many types of garage and house music for your pleasure of killing it on the dancefloor.

'Circles' steals the show with the mid-tempo sandstorm drums and mantra-spiral bassline. The second track on the release 'Unwind', immediately teleporting you to the end of a night. Subwoofer health test tool. 'With You / Without You' opens proceedings with a spiral of haunted acid bass and technoid hihat leaping in energy throughout. 'My Flow' is a subtle composition of euphoric synths and well-crafted sub-bass. These nostalgic early morning breaks scattered cut stylishly close off the EP. More

Tracklisting:
A1 RAVETRX - Run 'N' Hide
A2 RAVETRX - Show Me
B1 RAVETRX - Mind Games
B2 RAVETRX - Shebeen

Release Note:
Arriving on Cheeky Sneakers and bringing the essence of UK rave with him is UK based producer Ravetrx who deliver four huge cuts of breakbeat, jungle and trance-licked hardcore for the masses.

'Run 'N' Hide' begins with fairly familiar territory for the producer. Sitting somewhere between techno, breaks and speed garage, this peak-time warper is a sure-fire party starter, before 'Show Me' transitions into breakbeat completely; it's deafening bass-kicks, euphoric builds and jungle-percussion providing a throwback to a golden era for dance music.

The familiar chords of the M1 ring out on 'Mind Games' - a classic trance love-cry brimming with emotion - before the 160bpm jungle riddims of 'Shebeen' provide a lairy and screwface-inducing climax. More

Klasse Wrecks' sub-label Junglish Massive returns for a third installment of breakbeat beat chaos, this time brought to you by friend of the label..Alphonse. The 'Android Mash' EP is an epic ode to Jungle, mangled and squashed together through a lens of classic drum and bass references. The title track spans over 15mins and invites the listener to join in on the journey of constant shifting and movement. Its Jungle...but not as we know it! More

Club Glow powerhouse and all-round Bristol bass-bin baiting badman Borai returns to his Higher Level label with three new drops of elevated breakbeat science. As well as his work alongside Denham Audio, L Major and Mani Festo in Club Glow, Borai has been busy landing uptempo slammers on Hardcore Energy, Vivid, E-Beamz and Infiltrate in the past couple of years, and he returns to home turf in peak shape.

The A side lights up with the dizzying break-juggling ruffness of 'Lights On', a surefire call to squeeze the last juice from the party, while 'Bobbi' opens the B side treading an artful line between deep and depraved as immersive tones face off against taut, driving rhythms. 'Sargasso Sea' smooths the proceedings out good and proper in true B2 style with a pitched-down slice of soul-charged broken beat that smacks where it counts, Borai's established instinct for forward-facing melody shining through in the interplay between 90s keys, diva vocal samples and illustrious pads. More

Tracklisting:
A1 Peaky Beats - Paradise Falls
A2 Peaky Beats - Soul Diesel
B1 Peaky Beats - Tangerine Dream
B2 Peaky Beats - Paradise Falls (Tim Reaper remix)

Release Note:
Arriving on Lobster Theremin's White Label on comes a fresh-sounding and typically loud release from Leeds vinyl enthusiast Peaky Beats. Never one to be pigeon-holed into a specific style of music, his recent releases have explored 2-step, speed garage and dub - bringing his wicked ear for big UK blends into the spotlight - and earmarking him as one of the UK's most exciting emerging producers.

On Paradise Falls EP, Peaky Beats unites the worlds of jungle, drum & bass and 2-step on a high velocity, future-facing project, with a little help from contemporary jungle legend Tim Reaper. 'Paradise Falls' is a melodic stepper that ventures close to 150BPM territory. Those skippy UKG elements are all there, but this time with a hefty dose of jungle influence which brings a certain weightlessness to the track. 'Soul Diesel' ventures further into the garage sphere; the velocity diminishing slightly as the vitality continues to soar. Introspective breaks for sunny days.

'Tangerine Dream' is a prime old school cut of dubbed-out nostalgia. Sitting somewhere between The Streets, El-B and Coco Bryce, its deep bass-weight inspires big 'Any Jungle In, Guy?' energy, before Tim Reaper's remix of 'Paradise Falls' blows the bloody doors off with a typically emotive and atmospheric cut of jungle fantasia.

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