RAWAX proudly welcomes Ben Sun to the family.
We are very happy to present you a special release from Ben on HOUSEWAX.
For the first time his previous tracks, which came out on diffrent Voyeurhythm releases, will be out on one EP! More

Australian producer Ben Sun joins Phonica’s main label with a solid four track EP of House music in its various forms, from slick Disco loopers to deep ambient tribal rhythms.

The now London-based Ben Davidson has a string of well-received records under his belt, under the aliases Benjamin Sun, Earth Patterns and now as Ben Sun. His regular outings on Delusions Of Grandeur and Voyeurhythm are particularly of note, as well as recent excursions on Utopia and Razor N Tape. We’re delighted to have him as part of the Phonica family now too!

The 12” starts with ‘Trip’, a gradually building filtered Disco teaser, with classy deep House number ‘Mellow Madness’ following up. On the flip is the sumptuously balearic roller ‘Glow’, before the record’s euphoric floor-filler ‘Siren’ rounds out the record in style. We have a feeling this particular earworm will be lingering in records bags (and USB sticks) for some time! More

White Vinyl!
With previous releases on Delusions of Grandeur, Voyeurythm and more, UK producer Ben Sun delivers a gorgeous blend of deep textures that hearken back to the golden era of NY and Chicago with his Distant Messenger EP on Razor-N-Tape.

On the A-side, Transmission has all the vibey goodness of an early Strictly Rhythm record, while Sable Sun scuba dives into Larry Heard territory with lush pad swells and squelching acid lines.

On the flip, the emotive motion of Tremors builds through hypnotic arpeggiated synths, a slow-rolling bassline and crystalline melodies, and the record finishes in proto-house territory with the Peech Boys era Larry Levan-inspired Red Light. This EP may wear its influences on its sleeve, but it looks (and sounds) classy as hell. More

Time flies when you’re having fun and we can’t fathom how this can be Ben Sun’s 5th EP for Delusions Of Grandeur but it’s true enough and once again he comes up trumps in the form of the Place Of Worship EP. Having previously graced such esteemed imprints as Royal Oak, Tru Thoughts, Razor n Tape as well as his own vinyl-only label Voyeurhythm the London based Australian producer continues to be both highly regarded, yet somewhat under the radar but we’re sure that’s about to change with this incredible new three tracker. Opening up we have See It Come Shining, just the kind of life-affirming club track which seem to be in such short supply these days, but that we need now more than ever. Gospel flavoured piano chords tug on the heart strings whilst a simple, raw disco groove with added 909 punch creates a warmth and energy that transcends the dance floors that it’s destined to liberate. Flipping over we have Oceanways T150, a deep, analogue jam that harks back to simpler times when breakbeats collided with a house thump, uplifting pianos meld into punching basslines and discovering music through muffled old cassette mixtapes or patchy pirate radio reception was all we knew. Rounding off the EP we have the perfect closer Atlantis Transfer. Here Ben puts more early influences into the mixing pot with ambient washes cascading down over a sublime 90’s deep house bassline. Analogue hats and tripped-out sound FX skirt around a naive synth melody making for a heady late night treat to get lost in. More

Ben Sun returns to Delusions for his 4th release on the label including three more tracks which show the Australian via London on his best form yet. Full Moon kicks off the Tides EP at full throttle with a muscular conga-led disco house roller. Slurping 909 hats and the most twisted of synth solos courtesy of regular collaborator Fantastic Man (and his beloved Juno 60) provide the icing on this simple bass-cake which never fails to energize the dancefloor in the most special of ways. Star Ritual drops next, going heavy on the percussion once again for a minimal stripped back drum tool which packs a mighty punch. Dubbed out vocal hits punctuate the beautifully loose groove with subtle hints of afrobeat implied by the bassline making for a warm summer track dripping with tropical vibes. Finally we have Glass Waves bringing the EP to a glorious close, all chiming synths, bouncing moog bass and waves of chords layering on top of a heavy drum track. Ben repping an early 90’s blissed out Nu Groove mood on this one and managing to sound as fresh as ever in the process. More

Ben Sun returns for his third Delusions Of Grandeur release with this solid slice of raw, old school house entitled Tricks On Wax. The London-based producer has been on fine form recently, slowly but surely becoming a name to watch and joining the pool of amazing talent coming out of Australia at the moment. As the boss man of the vinyl-only label Voyeurhythm Ben has had a string of underground gems but isn’t adverse to spreading his wings and knocking out originals and remixes for the likes of Quintessentials and Royal Oak. Here on Tricks On Wax we find Ben in full on party mode, the lead track being a stomping Chicago-inspired cut taking a classic formula but cranking the heat up until it’s sweat-dripping-off-the-walls time. For those with an aversion to saxophone in house music, get your listening gear round this lot and tell us this doesn’t put a smile on your face. Flip over for Seven Sisters, a brilliant synth-heavy tribute to the early days of NYC house when the likes of Pal Joey, Jovonn and the Burrell Brothers ruled the dancefloors. Finally we have Special For You, which sees Ben drop the BPM’s for a mid- tempo freestyle jam, heavy on the samples but still managing to inject the track with his own sound and coming up trumps in the process. More

Ben Sun returns to his native Voyeurhythm with a very personal two-track 12" for the label he co-founded. Following three EPs (Delusions of Grandeur and Love Fever), this 15th Voyeurhythm record is an expressive solo excursion, and a development in the artist's sound. The record has a dark side and a light side. Beginning in the dark, Phantoms emerges from hazy house drums and congas into a spacey combination of strings and synths underpinned by a thick submerged bassline. Entering into the light on side B, Remote Release unfolds with a clear yet analogue sound, full of breathy rhythm and rolling melodies; a jazz-infused dance sound that bristles with warm energy. More

Time to welcome back Ben Sun to DOG following his 2012 debut with us, the Love Momentum EP which had the likes of Gerd, Soul Clap and Red Rackem salivating nicely. Kicking off the EP we have the title track Your Footprints setting the scene with Ben's trademark raw hihats, bass and 909 kick. We're talking unashamedly old school Nu Groove-era house here but with a deep sense of knowledge and skill which pushes things way beyond the pastiche. Chiming melodies join the gentle string line while the soft vocal repeats hypnotically. Layers of percussion build to the breakdown where things get a little more frenetic with the introduction of timbales and extra vocals, but all the while a laid back, subdued feeling remains making this such an easy track to fall in love with as you would some long-lost classic inadvertantly rediscovered. Next up Ben drops the BPM's a little for a lovely, loose, lo-slung number known as Affirmation. A snaking analogue bass line provides the hook and sets the scene whilst a layer of moody chords build around it underpinned by ben's carefully crafted MPC beats and vocal FX. This one is very simple but will kill it on a big system. Finally we have the Chicago don Tevo Howard getting busy on his remix of Your Footprints. Never one to spit n polish things to the point of sterilization, Tevo keeps things dirty and raw in the extreme which only adds to the sleazy, almost disturbing vibe of the original. Working up a brilliantly catchy new synth bass line and simple drum groove we venture deep into the world of Mr Howard as he does his inimitable thing so perfectly.
More

Time to welcome Ben Sun to D.O.G with his incredible Love Momentum EP containing three tracks of the raw stuff to groove to. Some may know Ben Sun from his previous releases on the brilliant Voyeurhythm label, his own vinyl-only imprint distributed by Clone which was established in 2009. Others might have his remixes of Reggie Dokes on Royal Oak or Deep Space Orchestra on Boogie Originals. Whatever, this man is making serious waves right now and adds yet another feather in the collective cap of young Antipodean producers making underground house music with their own unique and authentic approach.

You Should Know Better kicks off in fine style bringing the thump and the funk with a doff of the cap to the Moody one in this ten minute excursion into sampled basslines and cut-up beats. Nagging strings and filtering horn sample increase the tension, interspersing the vocal clips perfectly and driving the track to the midpoint breakdown where the rousing speech pushes the energy levels further still. The second part of the track introduces the soloing rhodes hook which loops up and builds slowly before letting loose in an all out jazz jam bringing things to a suitably funked-up conclusion.

Flip over for the slightly straighter classic house bounce of Yesterlife, all splashing 909 hats, pads that Mr Heard himself would approve of and a warm bassline bringing the boom to the track. We can’t get enough of the raw energy Ben’s got running through this one.

Finally, we have the epic beauty of Love Hotel to get your teeth sunk into. Once again, the production is completely on point, sounding sweet, deep and musical but staying raw and gritty. This one features NYC’s finest exponent of slo-mo, sultry house Slow Hands so that should give you an idea of the quality we’re talking about here. More

A return to VR from Ben Sun, who delves into deeper territory on the original cut; emotive analogue synths washing over a roland drum groove and a swirling female vocal, all underpinned by a warm, rumbling bassline. The flipside features some heavyweight remix work from the prolific Deep Space Orchestra (Use Of Weapons, ART, Delusions Of Grandeur) and label mate Tyson Ballard teaming up with Vincenzo (Poker Flat, Dessous). Vincenzo and Ballard?s mix is a heavy hitting, moody take on the original, with subtle, dark strings and a growling, evolving bassline, while DSO round off the release with trademark fat drums and soaring melodic synth work. More

Last year marked the reemergence of Anoesis following a 20-year hiatus. A highly respected producer across the ‘90s, specialising in interstellar IDM and electronica, Howard Dodd rose from his statis to release two new albums alongside a five-track EP on Cyphon Recordings last year. A bold statement and stake in the ground showcasing that Dodd’s production prowess has not faltered in that time, but has rather taken on a fresh vitality in this new chapter.

The Megacognition EP exudes Dodd’s distinctive style. A master at making tracks that sound like they were created in an extraterrestrial laboratory, fed by long lost tapes of Detroit techno from ‘Planet Earth’.

‘Vision Off’ opens the EP. Subaquatic rumblings with precision drum programming that dials from reverberating kicks to crunched claps. Trembling basslines and hypnotising synths entice you to the depths, as arps trickle to the top disorientating your brain.

‘Do Don’t Don’t Do’ and ‘Polybius’ follow. The former, a spiralling, off-kilter web of interlocking synthesis, that’s both dizzying and harmonising in the same breath. The latter a dubbed-out, minimal house groover packed with tactile basslines, dusty drum loops and echoed vocal samples.

Take to ‘New Style of Life’ for a transfixing dose of twisted Martian music, guaranteed to cause a stir. Warped electro meets cybertronic electronica with a techno edge. ‘Voxelle’ then closes out the EP. A soul-rousing cut of euphoric deep house. Stargazed, sunrise hazed, it’s a track that can be deployed anytime, anywhere and is sure to leave a lasting mark. Layers of luscious pads and celestial strings topped with an infectious synthline that will suspend you weightlessly in a bubble of worry-banishing brilliance.

Active in an age where talent, diligence and taste meant more than social media traction and algorithmic obedience, Dodd’s versatility and class have clearly never waned since those early days. If anything, the Megacognition EP shows it is as strong as it has ever been. More

Operating from the depths of London’s musical underground since the late ‘90s, Infinity Plus One has been quietly toiling away, letting his music do the talking for the past two and a half decades. Cyphon Recordings draft in the veteran producer for a rare four-track EP of Detroit-infused, future-facing house and techno laced with the compelling lyricism of JaronX.

The Rebellion EP sees Infinity Plus One in some of his finest form to date. Leading the charge, ‘Context is Broken’ opens with JaronX’s poignant and passionate lyric on the state of global media, where sensationalism sells more copies than facts. From there, you dive headfirst into a hit of heavy-duty, contorted house. Crisp hats, punchy kicks and echoing stabs are interspersed with twisted electronics and JaronX’s arresting vocals. A sub-rattling bassline hits you square in the chest taking this neural club cut to the next level.

‘Say The Truth’ follows. A glitching, syncopated roller, woven with an entrancing monologue that is modulated and layered into tripped-out harmonies that echo around your brain.

On the flip side, ‘Identity Keeps Changing’ is a morphing techno weapon, where voices and synthesisers oscillate through different forms with every new turn. Rave-infused synth lines, breakbeats and a warped bassline channel that ‘90s warehouse flavour for a kinetic dose of dancefloor bedlam.

Rounding off the EP, the surging chords of ‘Utopia’ ping between your ears. A pulse that rides the kick drum, as dizzying arps and heavenly strings are layered into the mix to form a transfixing, gravity-defying techno immersion.

Fusing lyricism with the depth and dynamism of house and techno’s roots, Infinity Plus One hardwires meaning within his music. Visceral and thought-provoking, it’s a welcome respite in a sea of conformity. More

One of the most consistent new labels around, Cyphon Recordings, marks double figures with another standout release that gleans from the past, but faces the future. This time they look to the talents of Emotive Technology, a new alias from Chilean Massiande who provides a five-track EP of machine-wielding, soul-rousing techno from across the spectrum.

Although this may be the first release under his new moniker, Massiande has spent the last decade putting out productions with labels such as Housewax, Phonica, Freerange and Groovin. Firing on all cylinders from the get-go, ‘Rise’ kicks off the Walk Into The Light EP. A hyperspace melding of new beat, Italo and arp-operating techno that opens out into a slice of peak-time revelry.

The swirling textures of ‘It’s On’ follow, pushing you into the next dimension. A hypnotic, entrancing and arresting heads-down powerhouse. Crunchy and considered it's the kind of strobe-stuttering basement jam that turns heads inside out.

Two Detroit-leaning tracks ‘Your Zone’ and ‘Walk IntoThe Light’ are up next. The former is a heavyweight machine workout. Layered synth lines and crisp drum programming transfix, as that grooving low-end powers bodies into bedlam. The latter, a Motor-City-influenced tour de force. One that sees Massiande recode the circuitry to hit with a piano-laden stunner, balancing power and presence, with emotion and nuance.

Closing out proceedings, ‘The Swing’ sucks you in deeper. A resonating world of synth stabs, pulsating basslines and atmospheric electronics.

Doing the Emotive Technology namesake proud, Walk Into The Light is machine music hardwired with a heavy sense of soul. More

When it comes to the underground of electronic music, there's not much Kirk Degiorgio hasn't seen or done. 30+ years in the game, Degiorgio has more than made his mark on the scene’s landscape, both as an esteemed DJ and also as an acclaimed producer with releases on the likes of Versatile Records, Ubiquity and B12.

Cyphon Recordings draft in this true master of the craft for a three-track journey showcasing exactly why he's sustained the level he has for so long. A melodic richness and tactile makeup, whereby Kirk’s tracks more than move your limbs, but rather meld directly to your heart.

First up, a slice of soul-struck, deep house in the form of ‘All About U’. Poised yet powerful, iridescent arps layer upon sweeping pads and a bassline that locks you in from the off. Degiorgio holds the vocal refrain in the back pocket, letting it loose once he’s wrapped you up in the groove.

'Cidade Do Futuro' follows, a cosmic carnival, enticing dancers from the deep. Dynamic snare rolls marry with rising synths in mystical fashion, as Latin percussion moulds around an acid-tinged bass. Together they create a tension that builds and breaks, rising to its next summit before descending once again into outer space.

Closing out the EP, ‘Frayed Edge’. Sitting at the intersection between prog-leaning breakbeat and Detroit-flavoured techno this grooved-laden, lunar transmission is one for late-night dancefloor lovers.

In a sea of sterile, over produced new music, the Living On The Frayed Edge EP stands out as a beacon of dynamism and versatility, showcasing Degiorgio’s inherent knack in being able to craft songs that speak of something deeper than simply dancing.

DJ Feedback:

JKRIV/ RAZOR-N-TAPE: This is a very nice one. Really dig the electro Brazilian vibes of Cidade do Futuro.

GARETH SOMMERVILLE/ ATHENS OF THE NORTH: Kirk Degiorgio showing why he is held in such high regard with these three tracks.

HOT TODDY / CRAZY P: More great stuff from Cyphon, wonderfully warm, soulful, beautifully produced.

BILL BREWSTER/ NTS: Really nice EP, esp. the lead track. More

Cyphon Recordings continue their remarkable run of form with a brand new six track mini LP from Aussie powerhouse Ewan Jansen. With three decades of experience permeating his productions, Chroma Sea is a signature Jansen voyage - crisp, colourful, groove-heavy house and techno anchored by an analog weight.

A veteran of the scene, Jansen cut his teeth in the early '90s producing hardware-saturated house music drenched in depth and feeling. Having released on the likes of Moods & Grooves, Going Good, Freerange and Butter Sessions across the years, he’s also been captaining his own label Red Ember Records since 1997.

Leading the Chorma Sea odyssey is 'Salt Circuit', a squelching '90s tech house leaning track with a Detroit influenced touch, where bounce and power balance expertly with intricate synthwork and synapse-firing breakdowns.

'Brinewave' and 'Cybercanisco' follow, the former a head pickling, bass heavy, atmospheric electro joint. The latter a blinding yet blissful, Motor City channelling techno creation, that burrows deep down into your soul.

On the flip, 'Hydronexus' swallows you up in with a hit of absorbing space-age techno that envelopes your brain in layer upon layer of tactile sounds, before 'Faulty Gelfling' fires you out the other side into a twisted, robo electro hyperspace.

Closing out the release and bringing you back down to earth, 'Surabaya', where soft pads swell and oscillating synths wash over you, as that grooving low-end just keeps on rolling.
The Chroma Sea release expertly illustrates Ewan Jansen's ability to craft a vibrant blend of house and techno that nods across the ocean to the US and Europe, yet grounds itself down under. Earthly and analog yet explorative all at once. More

Having surfaced from a 20 year hiatus this year with two new albums, Anoesis continues his restored run of form letting loose a five track masterclass in IDM, electronica, house and electro on Cyphon Recordings. Showcasing a signature touch crafted across the ‘90s, the Stasislogue EP flies the flag for the fact that Howard Dodd has by no means lost the ability to make a dancefloor move.

Operating in a far flung corner of the cosmos, Anoesis was responsible for some truly mind-warping breakbeat and IDM across the ‘90s on labels such as D*Fusion Records and Octopus - releasing tracks that always felt like they were made in another dimension.

Continuing where he left off, the EP opens with ‘Track Thirty 7’, a production that could just as easily have come from Mars, as it could Detroit. Glitched out yet driving, conceptual yet considered, it’s got an ethereal urgency that moves limbs with purpose.

‘Callisto’ follows, part UR, part dream house - an emotive, eyes closed journey with soaring pads and glistening synths laid over a bubbling beat. Rounding off the A side, ‘May Eleventh’ gives a real insight into the modulated mind of Anoesis, a hardware-heavy, underwater electro trip that nods to the deep sea dwellers, Drexciya.

Flip it over to find ‘Space Watch’, a skippy house bumper with a grooving low-end and lunar transmissions hypnotising from the off, before a peak-time, dancefloor-focussed slice of mind-expanding electronica, ‘Places For People’, rounds off the package.

Honed in the ‘90s, yet firmly rooted in the present, it’s clear to see that Dodd’s ability to write absorbing, interplanetary machine music with a human heart at its core is as strong as it’s ever been. More

Cyphon is proud to bring you brand new music from one of Europe’s pioneers of techno and IDM, Stefan Robbers aka Terrace and Florence. His early releases for Djax-Up-Beats and his own Eevo Lute Muzique in the early 90’s were hugely influential striking a sweet spot between stark minimalism, majestic analogue lushness and dance floor grooves. In more recent years his own reinterpretation of the Detroit sound can be found on the highly regarded Dutch label Delsin.

Here on his ‘Thermionic EP’ Terrace sings out with such intensity that minds are blown. Listen to the brutal, exhilarating sequences of ‘Territorial’ which leads the new EP, and you will receive that message loud and clear. While the music is as much about the consequence of soulful depth, it is also about edgy machines communicating intimately. Sweet chords fuse and then contrast with grainy acidic sonics, leaving the tempo poised at an irresistible pace like all our futures depended on it.

As you move next onto the more subtle electro pulse of ‘Thermon’, shimmering keys dance around a frame-by-frame remembrance of robotic disco in the 23rd century. The uplifting brilliance of ‘Woodward’ follows filling the void with an explosion of colour that is all about life-affirming instrumentation, hitting you fast and loose with a cascade of arpeggios, tough drums plus an incendiary surge of melodic distraction causing the airwaves to crackle with celebration.

Completing this stunning release from Terrace are the fierce, hotwired grooves forged by ‘Ritual’, conjuring up endless combinations of an analogue model rediscovered. The sheer dancefloor animation found within each of Terrace’s productions on this EP purposefully point to and enhance Cyphon Recordings own mission to explore, propelling the emphasis forever forwards.

DJ Support:

Sean Johnston, Kevin Reynolds, Vince Watson, Gareth Sommerville, Daniele Baldelli, Dj Rocca, Massimiliano Pagliara, Craig Smith, Jason Kendig, Rarish & Yoshi Horino

A LOVE FROM OUTER SPACE / SEAN JOHNSON
Love this - proper techno!

GRAEME PARK/ THE HACIENDA
Wonderful slice of electro goodness. I love it! Especially "Thermon".

KEVEIN REYNOLDS / TRANSMAT
Basking in the gleam of Woodward, dopeness!

HARRI SUB CLUB
Love this techno release.

VINCE WATSON/ EVERYSOUL
Woodward is the one, sick

GARETH SOMMERVILLE/ ATHENS OF THE NORTH
‘Territorial’ is sleek, emotive body music and ‘Ritual’ is a groove that won’t stop. Ace.

MASSIMILIANO PAGLIARA / BLACK SPUMA
Great stuff!

CRAIG SMITH/ 6TH BOROUGH PROJECT
Woodward is the one for me on this EP

JASON KENDIG/ HONEY SOUNDSYSTEM
Wow!! new Stefan Robbers is cause for celebration! These are dope!! not enough exclamations!!!!

RARISH
Amazing tunes.

DR ROB/ BAN BAN TON TON
This guys a techno legend – I have a fair few of his earlier releases on my shelves

GINO GRASSO/ BBE
Super Techno release. Territorial I love this track Chicago style More

Cyphon Recordings welcome DJ, producer, musician, and D.KO co-owner Flabaire for the fourth outing on the label.

At just 29, the Parisian artist, already has a fair share of victories under his belt. On his acclaimed D.KO imprint, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, he’s released three albums and several EPs, as well as charting releases for Organic-Music, Deeppa Records and South Street.

For his next solo EP, he brings his beautifully affecting and nostalgic blend of electro, IDM, and deep house to Cyphon. Doing what he does best, Flabaire’s ‘Entre-Deux’ is an EP brimming with emotion and atmosphere. Pulling at the heartstrings, opener ‘In Between’ layers an electro beat over lush pads with iridescent synth lines rising out of the haze. Cowbells swing into action, pads swell and glisten, making way for a squelchy 303 to bubble underneath.

‘No Minding’ moves into softer realms, a serene blend of deep house and electronica, it’s paced by a warm bass bounce and shuffling percussion sprinkled with chopped vocal samples and bright keys. Flabaire’s bass mastery continues ‘Click Plok’, as does his deftness at producing delicate, gliding pads, this time punctuated by tight bleeps, gentle open hats, and a meandering synth solo.

Closing out the EP the atmospheric ‘FBG’, a balmy syncopated groove joined by twinkling synth melodies that dance over dusty breakbeats and hushed vocal stutters.


DJ Feedback:

MAD MATS
Click Plok is really nice, small hours house music :)

DOMENIC CAPPELLO/ SUB CLUB
Click clock is a tune

MASSIMILIANO PAGLIARA / OSTGUT TON
Groovy!!

GREG WILSON
This is a bit spesh!

KEVIN REYNOLDS
Click Plok is an absolute jam! That 909 shuffle, the pad and lead line are killer. Love it

RICHARD DORFMEISTER
The Flabaire-no minding version is the one for me …

JASON KENDIG/ HONEY SOUNDSYSTEM
No Minding is the highlight here for me. FBG rounds things out with a wonky shuffle that seems like it will be fun to play out.

CHRIS DUCKENFIELD.
I like it.

PHILIPPA/ FREERANGE
This is great. Will def play In Between in more expressive moments - gorgeous stuff.

HECTOR ROMERO/ DEF MIX
Solid deep grooves on this EP.

CRAIG SMITH/ 6TH BOROUGH PROJECT
Solid EP. Clik Plok is the one on the selection More

Hot on the heels of their sophomore release with DJ Rocca, Cyphon Recordings welcome Tijuana’s Cyborg Nerve to the family for the third installment in their busy label schedule.

A new project helmed by the Cedillo brothers - also known for their work under the monikers Soul of Hex and Mano De Fuego - Cyborg Nerve’s sound tips the hat to the roots of Detroit electro and techno.

The Vicario Musique Recordings bosses have already made a mark under their Soul of Hex alias, pushing their cosmic, vibrant take on deep house. It’s caught the ear of labels and artists across the world; the likes of Delusions of Grandeur, Freerange Records and Quintessentials have shared their music and they’ve even earned the Larry Heard seal of approval, with the legendary Chicago producer stepping up to remix their 2014 track ‘Lip Reading’. As Mano De Fuego they’re also getting their music into the hands of pioneering figures in the American dance music scene - summer of this year saw them release a shamanistic debut via the inimitable Underground Resistance.

For their debut outing as Cyborg Nerve, the pair deliver four tracks of old school electro grooves. Title track ‘Cristalizacion’ kicks things off. A slice of intergalactic electro; celestial pads soar above warm bass and staccato drum rhythms. Their eponymous track follows and takes the energy levels up a notch: a warbling bass line drives the track forward, whirring and revving while crisp hats fizz overhead.

‘Tijuana 3000’ is another cut that's custom-made for the dance floor. As with the title track, the duo call to mind the interstellar jazz-tinged electronics of Detroit outfit Galaxy 2 Galaxy, as they pair cosmic twinkling melodies with a hypnotic acid line that takes centre stage. ‘Machine Effect’ brings the EP to a close. Like its name suggests the track is powered by a raw, machine funk groove and precise drum programming - no bells and whistles, just pure cosmic vibrations to move your body. More

A1 – Forever
A2 – Mojito
A3 - Hug Close
B1 - Illuminated Night
B2 - Stay With Us

Tokyo-based DJ, producer and sound artist Yuu Udagawa inaugurates the freshly launched Cyphon Recordings with her debut EP, ‘Forever’.

Growing up on a cocktail of everything from rock, hip-hop and Latin jazz to techno and house, Yuu’s immersive musical output draws inspiration from this diverse pool of influences to create ‘uplifting and healing’ music for the mind and body. There’s an elegance and sophistication to her productions, which stems from her desire to make music guided by the Golden Mean philosophy of finding a middle ground between two extremes: excess and deficiency.

Active as a DJ since the millennium, which saw her playing at clubs, festivals and fashion shows across the country, she soon turned her attention to music production and has since self-released a handful of singles and contributed audio commissions for Sony Playstation3, museums, theatres and apparel brands. Yuu’s meditative pallet of sounds instantly grabbed Cyphon’s third ear which led to the tracks that make up ‘Forever’: a collection of analog slo-mo electronica and leftfield minimal house that strike a perfect balance between warmth and depth.

The release opens with the titular track: a deep, emotive electro cut punctuated by a twinkling synthline and blissful vocals. ‘Mojito’ continues the EP’s voyage into the deep, matching softly spoken word with jazz-tinged chords and meandering melodies, before ’Hug Close’ strips things back, guided by a crunchy minimal groove, warm, resolute keys and reflective synths.

The B-Side steers things on a soulful course. The dark, enveloping atmosphere of ‘Illuminated Night’ is lifted by bright synth stabs and harmonic R&B-flavoured vocals. These influences continue on closer ‘Stay With Us’. Slowing down the pace, the track is a wash of shimmering funk-inspired chords and shuffling rhythms, laced once again with effortless, soaring vocal tones.

Radio:

Ed Banger – Apple Music’s Ed Wreck show "Brillant record! Very ecelctic I love love it!"

Mr Beatnick – NTS Radio

Matthias Hellwig - RBB Radio Eins / Kaleidoskop


DJ Feedback:

Joyce Muniz - Nice one!

Andrew Wowk - "Mojito" is awesome - such a nice groove (followed up)

Geordie Elliot-kerr - Some really interesting stuff in here. Digging the whole thing.

Simon Caldwell - Cool and different.

Paul Beller - super star release.

Fred Peterkin - Dope...

Alex Barck - Sounds fresh to me

Ruben Mandolini – Nice

Gabriel Izarraraz - great music will play for sure

Kristijan Molnar - Very nice!

Chris Loxton - superb

Danton Eeprom - Really love the production and original vibe of this record. bring it on!

Raymundo Rodriguez - cool release More

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

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

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

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

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


DJ Feedback:

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

Laurent Garnier - Twisted funkyness… Great stuff

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

Josh Cheon / Dark Entries - loving the first track!

Cormac / Polari Records - enjoying the no gym track

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

REES / CWPT - Big lover of this one!

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

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