Diffuse Reality presents TOBAS, its new collectible series with a sound directly aimed at the dance-floor. Timeless Techno five-tracker from Los Angeles-based artist Stephen Disario will take you through hypnotic rhythms that will trap you from the first beat, leading you into a loop of constant energy. Welcome TOBAS series! More

Tracklisting:
A1 Stephen Disario - Under The Rug
A2 Stephen Disario - Walking Through Trees
B1 Stephen Disario - The Marathon
B2 Stephen Disario - Lights Down Under

Sales Note
Stephen Disario delivers four-tracks as the debut release on his newly-launched imprint, and in so doing sets the tone for the output we can expect in years to come: driving basslines and infectious percussion crafted with meticulous perfection. More

Tracklisting
A1 Hitam - Nagini
A2 Hitam - Hoia Baciu
B1 Hitam - Kaelago
B2 Hitam - Kaelago (Rene Wise remix)

Sales Note
Conundrum Records delves into the depths of techno with a riveting release from Hitam, the Dutch producer who's renowned for his immersive soundscapes, stimulating textures and dynamic low-end. The "Subterranean EP" is a compelling journey through shadowy, bass-driven terrain, meticulously designed for powerful club systems. Despite the variety in tempo, the EP's relentless energy and thunderous low-end form a cohesive thread throughout.

The EP kicks off with "Nagini", where minimalist, driving drum patterns intertwine with glitchy synths and eerie atmospheres, setting the stage for what's to come.
"Hoia Baciu" intensifies the experience, maintaining a dark, brooding energy that envelops the listener in its foreboding vibe. "Kaelago" shifts gears slightly, slowing the tempo but upping the complexity with intricate sound design and broken beat transitions that showcase Hitam's deft production skills.

Adding to the EP's allure, renowned techno artist Rene Wise contributes a hypnotic, tribal-infused remix of "Kaelago," layering new depths onto the original and enhancing its already potent impact. For those seeking an even more intense experience, Hitam's alternative version of "Kaelago" serves as a digital bonus, pushing the boundaries of auditory immersion.

"Subterranean" is a masterclass in crafting dark, cerebral techno, with Hitam firmly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the genre. This EP is not just a collection of tracks but an exploration of mood and atmosphere, making it an essential listen for those who appreciate techno's deeper, more introspective side. More

Tracklisting
A1 Arthur Robert / Jay York - Come Closer
A2 Arthur Robert / Jay York - String Theory
B1 Arthur Robert / Jay York - Encrypt
B2 Arthur Robert / Jay York - Castigo

Sales Note
Conundrum Records' latest offering, the 'Unknown' EP, serves as a testament to the prowess of techno's rising stars, Arthur Robert and Jay York. With a fusion of hypnotic atmospheres and crispy rolling drums, the duo delivers a sonic journey that captivates from start to finish. More

Tracklisting:
A1 Stephen Disario - Under The Rug
A2 Stephen Disario - Walking Through Trees
B1 Stephen Disario - The Marathon
B2 Stephen Disario - Lights Down Under

Sales Note
Stephen Disario delivers four-tracks as the debut release on his newly-launched imprint, and in so doing sets the tone for the output we can expect in years to come: driving basslines and infectious percussion crafted with meticulous perfection. More

Tracklisting:
A1 Jack Fresia - Night Ride
A2 Jack Fresia - Wrong Turn
B1 Jack Fresia - Sintesia
B2 Jack Fresia - Sintesia (Jay York remix)

Sales Note
Italian techno artist Jack Fresia churns out three original tracks to form Conundrum Records' second outing, titled Night Ride EP.

Founded and curated by LA-based producer and DJ Stephen Disario, Conundrum Records is a label focusing on the groovier and deeper ends of the techno spectrum. The imprint debuted in March of 2023 with Stephen's very own Lights Down Under EP and continues on its mission with this brilliantly curated second release, which also comes complete with a Jay York remix.

The EP starts off with title track "Night Ride" a groovy piece that features hypnotic elements over an infectious bassline and percussive elements.

"Wrong Turn" is a slightly funkier affair, at first continuing in the same vein as "Night Ride" before taking you on unexpected twists characterized by darker elements and stripped-down percussions. This one is ideal for the later segments of a long dance floor night as it provides some breathing room and respite in between the otherwise dance floor-focused foundations of the track.

The third original track, "Sintesia" picks up the pace by speeding things a notch with an ever-so-slight crescendo, before bringing you back into the depth of its captivating peak-time journey.

Closing out the release is the brilliant Jay York remix of "Sintesia" Here, the young up-and-coming American producer increases the BPMs, transforming the original into a fast-groove tool, while maintaining its discerning underground elements.

Jack Fresia's Night Ride EP is out on Conundrum Records on June 30th and will be available on the label's Bandcamp. More

Calm's superb Before album is the gift that keeps on giving as Hell Yeah serves up a collection of the best remixes from it. Willie Graff, Gallo and Aura Safari all step up on a fresh 12" that lands this summer.

Before arrived on double vinyl in 2022 after a CD-only release in Japan in 2021. Since then it has become a Balearic mainstay and go-to record for lovers of lavish downtempo sounds. Now, remixes of three tracks from it all appear on this one record with Ibirican-American Willie Graff going first. He is a deep house don who has held several key residencies around the world while dropping his sublime sounds on the likes of Leng, Music For Dreams and many more. His remix of 'I Love You' is a gloriously horizontal one with blissful piano keys rippling over the bubbly drums and bass. Yearning reed melodies add an emotional romantic edge to make this a standout in any setting. Then comes Gallo, the Balearic Gabba Sound System member and resident at Berlin Balearic nightspot Buena Onda. His 'Tropical Hinterhof' remix of 'I Love You' is expertly exotic and soothing as mellifluous keys rain down over a groove as smooth as silk. It's a heart-achingly beautiful sound that will make for truly special moments on the dance floor.

Italian collective Aura Safari then offers two different remixes. They are master musicians who have served up a superb double album Islands Dreams here in late 2023 where they showcased their escapist blend of dub, jazz, Afro-cosmic, Balearica and boogie. First up, 'Feel It' (Aura Safari Desert mix) is six minutes of oriental melody over loose drums. There's a playful feel to the dancing piano keys and richness in the percussion that makes this one a sophisticated sound for both early evening warm-ups or moments of late-night reflection. 'Kunpoo' (Aura Safari Daydream mix) has a nineties feel with its gentle breaks, hypnotic string loops, and sustained chords. They break over you in gentle rays of earth and euphoria to ensure utterly blissed-out results.

These four versions all bring sophisticated dance floor energy to the timeless originals. More

Theme Ltd presents two new releases from resident artist GAIKA
, https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/residents/gaika also featuring THE NARRATOR and Liu. The two tracks circle between various influences and bear a bright flash of versatility from the artist and his collaborators. ‘Racing Gloves’ is underscored by THE NARRATOR’s melodious, delicately discordant passages. It’s then supplemented by GAIKA’s visceral, close-to-home rap style and calculated production. This textural balance, the two voices in tandem, makes for a perfect synchronicity. Not sure which voice to listen to? Pick up the gloves and go for a drive.

’S Composites’ featuring Liu, guides the listener between the gentle throes of multilingualism. It’s a unique mix of ethereal melodies supported by a classic RnB beat, enriched by a soft, swelling droning that seems to mimic breathing. As the track inflates and deflates, we’re carried by Liu’s honeyed vocals to her countdown, and the track’s final minute-long ‘breath’. More

Repress!

Following on from releases on Mary Go Black, NovaMute and Sleaze, Charlotte De Witte continues her streak of stripped back techno on this latest EP for Suara Music.

The Heart of Mine EP leads with the dark stomper 'This'. A simple and very effective twisted workout. The title track 'Heart of Mine', is typical of her trademark style. Pounding kicks, stark synths, and snatches of uplifting vocal.

The EP closes with the Lewis Fautzi remix of 'This'. It's atmospheric and crunching sound rounds of this solid techno release. More

Red Vinyl Repress coming mid/end of november.

During the early days of Deepchord Records, Detroit's transient and forgotten subculture musically inspired label founders Mike Schommer and Rod Modell in significant ways. The apex of Mike's creative fixation with the city was in 2001 when he recorded the Von Schommer album dc15. To capture the nature of the environment he found so fascinating, Schommer recorded the project at the Crown Motel in Detroit, Michigan. While overlooking the transient life displayed in the motel courtyard, Mike crafted lonely tones from his modular synthesizer and mixed them with his rudimentary DIY electronics. Still, most significantly, he allowed the music to become impregnated by the environment (much like the stains in the permanently soiled carpets of the motel room floor), creating a holistic experience that remains close to his heart almost 25 years later. Initially available as a limited edition preorder cdr to the Hypereal 313 maillist, the album has been remastered and is now available on color vinyl for the first time.

Original photography and treatments on tracks untitled 4 and untitled 10 by Rod Modell. More

With The Hidden Beauty Of Dutch House '94-'98, Anacalypto Records dug deep into the electronic archives of The Netherlands. Continuing their audio archaeology, their second release breathes new life into a true gem.

Closer is the first and last appearance of Luc Wächerlin aka Luca. Originally released in 1998, the four tracker was one of the final EPs to come out on Orlando Voorn’s ephemeral Slamdunk Records. The twenty-five-year-old press release describes the 12” as a collection of “beautiful, elongated, shimmering, Detroit style trancers for the morning after the night before.” Accurate words. The four works on offer are from the heyday of Techno, where flourishes of Detroit combine with the deeper currents of Sheffield for something energising and immersive. From the liquid synthwork and floating choral lines of the title piece, the listener is bathed in throbbing radiance and warmth. Echoes of “the night before” comes through in “Indian Summer.” A steady kick is the bedrock from which spirals of piano flow, fluid key changes providing a groove that roots this track firmly to the floor. Cascading chords introduce “Ultramarine”, subtle drum patterns giving way to acid scented bass and gentle currents of string. The quartet comes to a close with “Proxima.” Rich textured percussion supports drifting notes and silken chords, a touch of the otherworldly seeping through in tumbling 303 trills.

Closer is years beyond its time. Soulful compositions that belong to the burgeoning sound of Techno that was developing across the globe in the 1990s. Four works of beautiful machine music lovingly restored for a new audience. More

A continuation of the extensive research project initiated last year between Sound Metaphors, Transmigration and surviving eye-witness/historian Ray Castle. An in depth analysis of the dancefloor landscape that developed in Goa during the 80s' and early 90's well before "Trance" became the unfortunate dirty word it is today. Before "trance" was even a genre, Goa was brewing a scene with unparalleled aesthetics, with a constant influx of dedicated collectors and DJs coming and going to this tropical underground dancefloor haven, filtering through vast amounts of emerging electronic music of the times and distilling only the finest of "Special Goa Music". Here is another compilation of our chosen most impactful tracks that would have been soundtrack to a very special and pure moment of freedom in dancefloor culture before the bastardisation of what we now know as "Goa Trance". A highly sought after selection of New Beat, Proto Techno, early Progressive/Trance, Industrial, EBM and House Music. Featuring photographs of the events presented in a double LP gatefold with poster and liner notes by Ray Castle himself. Re-mastered at Manmade mastering in Berlin. A generous body of research essential to any well rounded record collection. More

Genre: Dub / Techno

Tracklisting
A1 Bukkha & Roger Robinson - Planet I-N-I
B1 Bukkha & Roger Robinson - Night Out

Sales Note
Unfold is the beginning of the next phase in Bukkha's musical journey. Its purpose is to explore different territories of sound and expose the people to a variety of tempos and styles. Kicking it off Planet I-N-I is a slow and low riddim that blends roots and future sounds carried by atmospherics and textures.
On the flip we have revered author and dub poet Roger Robinson taking us into the depths of reality. He shares with us a story that brings further awareness on profiling and police brutality. The story is accompanied by a minimal beat with echoing stabs and a pulsating sub. Enjoy the
journey in the first chapter of the Unfold series. More

Shogun Audio proudly presents Monrroe – Vol. 1, a limited edition collector’s item containing four of Monrroe’s biggest Drum & Bass hits released on the label over the past few years. Fan favourites such as ‘Out Of Time ft. Zara Kershaw’ and ‘Never Too Old ft. Emily Makis’ feature on black eco-vinyl and sleeve produced using 100% recycled materials. More

John Beltran in proper downtown Detroit mood! Including a remix from the Knight Of The Jaguar man himself Rolando! BIG! More

After a five year hiatus Luke Slater reanimates his L.B. Dub Corp alias for a dynamic, vocal-led ode to the club featuring Robert Owens, Paul St. Hilaire, Miss Kittin and more. The LP is set to release on 10th May 2024

Since his first forays into DJing, Luke Slater has been pursuing different streams of inspiration to wind up with some of the most enduring electronic music of the past 30 years. From the grandiose ambient techno of The 7th Plain to the trailblazing machine funk of Planetary Assault Systems, he’s gifted a lot of music to the world. His L.B. Dub Corp alias first emerged in 2006, and has since been a vessel for a looser approach to club music compared to the steely big room energy of P.A.S. At times it’s housier, elsewhere dubbier, but still logically attached to Slater’s overall arc as an artist and music lover.

On his new album, which marks his first appearance on Dekmantel, Slater wanted to celebrate the unique cultural intake which set him on his path. It starts with his earliest memories marvelling at the beats in his father’s big band and jazz funk records until he was old enough to be drumming himself. The drums have remained a source of fascination despite his years entangled in machine music, and for the first time Slater uses his own live drumming on Saturn to Home.

The subtle imperfections of human rhythm are a big draw - Slater has always shied away from anything too ‘perfect’. From the rough and ready advent of drum machines and synths in early 80s pop, disco and electro to the breakthrough years of house music, Slater started to get a handle on how the sounds were made by identifying with the DIY, anything-goes spirit of the era. These are the touchstones which were on his mind as he started to work on Saturn to Home, not seeking to create carbon copies or overtly retro tracks, but rather to keep the verve and open-ended attitude of that music on his mind as made the album throughout 2022.

Beyond the drums, the vocals are the other vital ingredient which Slater knew he needed for this record. His own voice appears sporadically, but he also very intentionally reached out to artists such as legendary deep house original Robert Owens and dub techno crooner Paul St. Hilaire. Iconic French electro provocateur Miss Kittin also makes an appearance. Alex is the solo alias for Alexandra Grübler of Baal & Mortimer, who lends her freewheeling approach to ‘Golden Star’ in a style Slater compares to Liz Fraser in Cocteau Twins.

Behind ‘Only The Good Times’ lies the story of fabled Eindhoven street character Arnol Kox, who passed away in 2020, whose philosophical proclamations had become local legend. Slater managed to record Kox shouting the Dutch equivalent of the track title, which had become his sole mantra after years preaching to folk in the city centre, creating a heartfelt tribute to someone who embodied the misfit individuality Slater feels most at home around, not least in the club.

It’s this lattice of sounds, stories and feelings which give Saturn to Home its electric, diaristic energy. Whether it’s the feverish passion of ‘Your Love’s infectious chord stabs or the smoky soundsystem tendrils of ‘Golden Star’, the elastic drums and mutant synth funk of ‘Krank’ or the star-scraping breakbeat techno of ‘Only The Good Times’, Slater tells the story of his life in music, which means his life overall, without ever being stuck in the past. More

Out through fabric Originals (DJ Mag – Best of British breakthrough label 2023), Trusting Theta draws inspiration from Irish and Greek mythology. It features collaborations with Eliza Rose, Mary Lake and fellow Derry-born artist SOAK. Trusting Theta is the debut studio album by Or:la.

The LP follows EPs on Hotflush Recordings and fabric Originals. Looking ahead, Or:la will play at Love International, Dekmantel Festival, Houghton, Lost Village and Body Movements before the album arrives.

Mastered and cut on 140g black vinyl by legendary mastering engineer Matt Colton at Metropolis Studios, London. Pressed at optimal media, Germany. More