Sourcing influences from 90s Tech, house, trance and breaks Aiden Francis' pure passion for underground electronic music radiates through his music and DJ sets. Effortlessly drifting between different sounds and aesthetics, Aiden has managed to break himself free from the constraints of genre so that his true creative prowess can be flexed in full.

The lack of constraint overflows into Aiden's DJ sets, providing highly energetic experiences that flows through a unity of sounds, cultures and voices. This varied approach to DJing has found Aiden's name appear on high-quality events across Manchester and the UK, having played along Eris Drew at The Loft, taking the reins for High Hoops Pride Weekender at The White Hotel featuring on the lineup alongside D.Tiffany and Fafi Abdel Nour and regular intimate sets at Eastern Bloc.

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Holly Lester’s Duality Trax Label has quickly become synonymous for its blend of future facing sonics and mind-warping melodies, served together with a healthy dose of nostalgia. A label just as focused on making dancefloor destroyers as it is exploring left-leaning, personal projects, it’s within this duality where the label has found its success, never afraid to shy away from b side oddities or tracks edging more towards good-old-fashioned-fun.

DUALITY5 steers towards the latter, with Manchester based DJ & producer Aiden Francis providing the serotonin on tap with three lively dancefloor cuts, including a huge remix from Italy’s Matisa. Aiden had a big 2022, releasing music on Magic Carpet, Gestalt and beloved music platform and label Houseum, solidifying himself as one to watch in the euphoric unity of house, trance and techno.

Title track ‘Plastic Fantasy’ is the star of the show, a suitably sassy roller that places everyone's favorite blonde icon front left of the speakers. Subtle old school strings contrast with alien electronics, providing familiarity in an otherwise unfamiliar world. A bubble-gum vocal then rolls in cheekily over a driving bassline and dynamic percussion - used in a way I’m not sure the original creators had in mind. ‘Future Proof’ meanwhile demonstrates Aidens’ knack for contemporary progressive house music. With warm pads, swirling sonic textures and moments of blissful euphoria, it’s energetic enough to move a dancefloor, but gentle enough for home listening too.

The record comes to a close with ‘Aquamarine’, with Aiden opting in favour of free flowing breakbeats and mind expanding synths, together radiating a feeling of warmth and hope for days to come. Italian DJ and producer Matisa is on hand to round the EP off with a bass-heavy rendition of ‘Plastic Fantasy’ a no-holds-barred speed garage licked stomper, with the power to lure smokers back inside the club with their feet firmly planted on the dancefloor.

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The 27th release on Gestalt Records comes from Manchester-based Aiden Francis, spanning three original cuts of driving techno and a levitating remix by South African producer Terrence Pearce aka Biodive.

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Ricky Razu is one of Belgium's new breeds of rising house producers who come from a vast background of jazz, boogie, hip-hop and disco and through the amalgamation of these various styles, he is quickly making a name for himself.

Ricky's swing is quite unique, he has been putting his own twist and interpretation on the regular house track by joining the dots between yesterday’s golden era classics and today’s club bangers. As one of Houseum's mainstays, he has also built up a solid presence behind the decks, becoming a regular player in the Belgian and international house scene. During the past years, Ricky’s prolific output has also allowed his sounds to propagate all over the globe, which culminated in a worldwide repertoire of gigs from Europe to the US, South America and Asia. The man has also garnered support from the likes of Jeremy Underground, Bellaire and Subjoi, to name a few, and with his new projects in the pipeline, the future is looking bright for him.

Get transported to a parallel dimension with the title track of Ricky Razu’s new EP ‘Cosmic Waves’. This spacey yet club-oriented track blends floaty arpeggios with a dark rumbling bass. But what truly sets "Cosmic Waves" apart is its sharp and distinct lead melody, guaranteed to linger in your head long after the first listen. In Ricky’s known style, the arrangement sounds complete yet never over-loaded, resulting in a track that is effective and easy to love.

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Holo is an Australian multi-instrumentalist, producer and DJ based in Berlin. Falling in love with music early on, he studied classical instruments until picking up the guitar as a teenager, which features often in his productions today. He was first discovered by YouTube channel Houseum who posted his track ‘Atlas’. Shall Not Fade soon took notice and released his debut EP, featuring ‘In My Dreams’ which became an instant classic. His next two EPs via Noire & Blanche & Houseum Records had similar success. A constant shapeshifter, each of his releases have been markedly different from the last, and his upcoming album on Houseum Records is no exception.

Ever since relocating from Melbourne to Berlin, Holo began to refine his craft as a DJ, playing often in clubs across Europe and in Berlin. Like his productions, his DJ sets are dynamic and colourful; a story set across many times and places.

His debut album is a mixture of old and new tracks, so it contains a diverse set of influences, styles and ideas. It’s this inconsistency, however, that brings the album together. Whether it’s the sudden piano in ‘In Tokyo’, overdriven guitars on ‘Roses’ or percussive video game sounds in ‘Super Nice’, every track has unexpected, contrasting elements that subvert the audience’s expectations and force their attention. The album is as much an expression of his love for music in all its forms as it is a rejection of tropes in electronic music, and it's his best work to date.

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The main idea behind the LP “Companions” was to combine Marc’s different tastes of electronic music on a record and to deliver a variety of moods aimed to be companions in your daily life. Music to work out, to dance to or really just for home listening. This record is a journey into the musical mind of the artist and tells the story of the ever ongoing battle between light and darkness. That's why you’ll find happy and uplifting tracks as well as deeper melancholic songs on this 12th installment of Houseum.

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Gavinco announces the ‘Deep Roots’ album, seven tracks of deep, jazz-infected house.

‘Deep Roots’ is a ravishing journey through lush, fantastical landscapes and paradisiacal coastlines.

It is here you can find Gavinco’s soothing synths and expert organic rhythm. From the title track through to ‘Transmute’, the A-side slowly builds up in energy, playful brass and lo-fi vocal samples creating an irresistible vibe whilst keys trickle like streams through swung jazz grooves.

The salt in the air makes way for glimmering stars on the B-side of ‘Deep Roots’, picking up the pace in ‘Showdown Groove’ and ‘Inspirations’ but maintaining the serene atmosphere of the album. ‘Homage’ then closes out the record via intense, mind-melting melodics and emotional vocal harmonies, rounding off a stellar LP where each instrument lives, breathes and brims with feeling.

“This is a deep jazz house album that I made with various old electric guitars, acoustic drum kits, Rhode & Hammond keyboards. I love world music, so I wanted to have an international selection of genres for the tracks so they could sound like they originate from any part of the globe. I wanted the listener to reflect and feel more engaged in the music by adding a meaningful or inspirational speech or voice for each track that is integrated into the rhythm of the music." - Gavinco

Joe Newham aka Gavinco first emerged on Houseum on the ‘Four J’s’ compilation back in 2018. He quickly followed things up with the “Caravella’ and ‘Interflow’ EPs in the years after, with this year’s ‘Deep Roots’ now marking the Brighton artist’s third escapade on the label. Newham combines a myriad of production techniques associated with genres anywhere from Acid House through to Afro-Beat, incorporating each element carefully into his versatile discography, making him a crucial player in the smooth house scene that’s released on notable imprints like Shall Not Fade, Novaj as well as his own outlet Satta Records.

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We are celebrating our 4 years anniversary with Houseum Records, so what better way than to gather together 12 artists we particularly like around a compilation rich in diversity? This double vinyl invites you to explore different horizons thanks to the multiple facets proposed. We let you discover this unexpected project full of surprises.

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