Underground Pacific’s Various Artists, “The Only Good Wave Is a Next One”, feels deft and elegant. Through its post-punk and new wave underpinnings- tap-hissing kicks, chunky synth-wobbles, and bleached vocals- clear, fluid top notes give the sound a modern feel. The results are refractive yet moody, careful yet powerful, mature, and considered.

This compilation features a choice array of international artists from Italians Amarcord and Italo-disco frontrunner Marcello Giordani to Leipzig-based artist-musicians New Hook.
Californian Underground Pacific’s labelmaster Cantor , Robert E. Livingood and Mexican Alf Champion contribute tracks from across the Atlantic and complete the release’s lineup.

Vinyl artwork have been curated by Italian artist Andro Malis who provides a cyberpunk-futuristic instruction manual to the release, where artists are dissected into their cyborg’s components. Special insert included. More

After releasing on Correspondant, Traffico Music and Mortordiscs, the new Cantor EP ‘Convergence’ is published by his own label Underground Pacific. Convergence is an emblematic rendering of Cantor’s attitude in sonic form – a sampling from his consciousness. Pared down to four arresting tracks, influenced by new wave and post punk, including a remix by the legendary Alexander Robotnick, Convergence presents auditory concepts through which to explore the fundamentals of Cantor’s music: distortions, psychedelia, romanticism and sonic cheerfulness. The vinyl edition is carefully tended featuring a unique contribution of the Italian artist Fabio Baggio (artbajo). More

Tracklisting
A1 Shabaam & Aladarus - Colossal
A2 Lenny San - Orbital
B1 OFF / GRID - Inner City Blues
B2 Rove Ranger - Onakum More

The renowned Disco Dandies have made a triumphant return, emerging from their creative haven at the Old Course of the St. Andrews Golf Club. Following the success of their previous chart-topping hit, “Inside Your Love” (2 People), which went to number one TWICE at Traxsource, they present their latest offering, a rework of the Miami T.K. Disco classic by Tamiko Jones, “Let It Flow.”

This new release showcases a heightened tempo and a fresh interpretation that irresistibly beckons the dance floor. The Disco Dandies, known for their meticulous attention to detail, have patiently crafted a musical gem that has received the coveted final seal of approval. Now, in the year 2024, they are ready to unveil their creation to the world.

n stark contrast to the hurried pace of some, the Disco Dandies adhere to a philosophy where haste has no place; instead, they embrace patience as the key to their artistic process. The anticipation surrounding their latest work has been met with great reward, and the wait for this musical delight has proven to be truly worthwhile.

Get ready to immerse yourself in the infectious rhythms and the Japanese, Cherokee soulful voice of Tamiko Jones and the Disco Dandies. More

Authenticity is important in music culture, at least to those whose relationship with it is a lifelong love affair. As listeners, we instinctively respond to artists whose musical output is an authentic representation of their inspirations, experiences and working methods.

By any measure, Guillaume Metenier’s collaborative Soul Sugar project oozes authenticity. It began in the late 2000s as an outlet for the virtuoso organist and producer’s updated takes on ‘60s and ‘70s soul-jazz and Hammond funk, but over the years it has evolved into something entirely different: a vehicle for classic dub and reggae inspired musical fusions made in collaboration with friends and like-minded musicians. As a result, Soul Sugar albums mix impressive musicianship with great grooves and untold nods to the sounds and artists that have helped shape Metenier’s musical outlook.

This authentic approach and soul-enriching sound is naturally in evidence on Soul Sugar’s firth studio set, Just a Little Talk, which is set to be released by Metenier’s own Gee Recordings label in March 2024. This time round, Metenier’s close circle of musical collaborators includes Blundetto, Samuel Isoard, Yvo Abadi, Jolly Joseph, Jahno, Shniece, Slikk Tim and Leo Carmichael. While many are old friends who have appeared on previous albums and singles, there are some first-time collaborators too.

This familiar-but-also-fresh approach is mirrored by the blend of tracks on offer on Just a Little Talk. New songs and instrumentals sit side by side with a small selection of on-point cover versions – something Metenier has been doing since the inclusion of Jimmy Smith and Dr Lonnie Smith covers on 2009 debut album Nothing But The Truth. Memorable covers since have included ‘Why Can’t We Live Together’, ‘I Want You’ and ‘Never Too Much’, all featuring the honeyed voice of Leo Carmichael.
This time round, the headline-grabbing covers are undeniably special. You’ll find takes on Curtis Mayfield’s ‘Makings Of You’, re-framed as a languid roots reggae song featuring voiced by the returning Carmichael, and Donald Byrd’s ‘Blackbyrd’, which Metenier has brilliantly re-imagined as a fabulous fusion of Studio One dub and Blaxploitation funk.

Yet it’s the album’s original compositions that arguably stand out. For proof, check lovers rock-influenced reggae-soul treat ‘The End of Your World’ (featuring heart-aching roots style lyrics and Junior Murvin-esque lead vocals by Jolly Joseph), the similarly conscious ‘Just a Little Talk’ and recent single ‘Top of My List’– an effortlessly emotive gem marked out by Metenier’s weighty dub bassline and Shniece’s incredible lead vocal.

The original instrumentals, in which Metenier often trades licks and solos with guitarists Slick Tim and Samuel Isoard, are similarly impressive – and, to return to our theme, as authentic as they come. Fittingly, one of these – ‘Tubby’s Ghost’ – was originally written and recorded in 1998 with bassist Patrick Bylebyl, who was then Metenier’s partner in a project called Seven Dub. It is, then, a new cover of one of Metenier’s own tunes – and a pleasingly heavyweight one at that. It delivers a genuinely pleasing conclusion to Soul Sugar’s most true and authentic album to date.

A1 - The Makings Of You
A2 - Happy Riddim
A3 - The End Of Your World
A4 - Black Byrd
B1 - Top Of My List
B2 - Fly Away
B3 - Just a Little Talk
B4 - Tubby's Ghost More

Tracklisting
A1 Feph - Kinetics
A2 Feph - Reasons Unknown
B1 Feph - Low Immortals
B2 Feph - Settlement Research

Sales Note
Miami-based producer and co-owner of the label Zosimos, Feph has been making moves amongst the techno community with her deeply psychedelic modular based techno for the last couple years. Invited to Palinoia based on the few releases I had heard from her, I pestered Feph to send me demo after demo, working our way up to the four tracks that comprise the tenth release on my label, "Kinetics EP". All four tracks are mind-bending short stories - dark and brooding, yet playfully buoyant, tunneling through your brain and taking you on a vivid journey. More

Tracklisting
A1 FLAWS - Clarity
A2 FLAWS - Hyperlink
B1 FLAWS - Turn
B2 FLAWS - Clarity (Kwartz remix)

Sales Note
Label head and founder of Kvalia Records, Linny Hex, invites Eerste Communie resident FLAWS for his first appearance on the label. Interconnected EP delivers three melancholic yet groovy originals by FLAWS and one pumping, icy remix by Kwartz. More

• White Coloured Vinyl

• Limited to 1000 copies worldwide

• Charlotte de Witte rework

TRACKLISTING:

A1 Universal Nation (Charlotte de Witte Remix) 7’34"
B1 Universal Nation (Live at I Love Techno 2023 Re-Edit) 12’47"





Charlotte de Witte Kicks Off 2024 With a New Label and Rework of One Of Techno’s Most Iconic Tracks



January 15,2024 - Today, techno force of nature Charlotte de Witte unveils a two-part homage to an iconic era of Belgium’s underground club scene with the debut of an archival label within her KNTXT imprint and a rework of one of the most anthemic techno tracks of all time. Appropriately titled Époque, this sonic time capsule aims to simultaneously preserve and reimagine the spirit, sounds and discotheque culture of the late 90’s and early 2000’s for a new generation. As head of the label, de Witte will kick off its release on February 9 with her own spin on the Belgian techno classic, “Universal Nation” by M.I.K.E Push.



Released in 1998 and originally written by M.I.K.E. Push as a B side for a different project, “Universal Nation” quickly solidified its reputation at the turn of the century as an iconic and defining track of this era in electronic music history. Reimagined through de Witte’s high-energy lens, this rework is an ode to one of her favorite classics. More

Tracklisting
A1 Nørbak - Regra
A2 Nørbak - Ferramenta
B1 Nørbak - Amarante 9am
B2 Nørbak - Nota More

In September 1968, AMON DÜÜL played the 'International Essener Songtage', Germany's first rock festival of five days duration, which was initiated by the later Ohr label boss Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser. The Berlin hit producer Peter Meisel heard and saw the band there and spontaneously signed them, along with Tangerine Dream and Birth Control. AMON DÜÜL was close to the Berlin 'Kommune 1' and came together at a time when everyone was an artist who wanted to be one. Anyone who wanted to could also be a musician. As a collective, anything was possible. In Meisel's studio, Angelika and Helge Filanda, Wolfgang Krischke, Ulrich Leopold, Rainer and Ella Bauer, Peter Leopold and Uschi Obermaier, sky-high as it was state of the art, recorded a session that broke every rule and turned all listening habits inside out. The recordings initially went into the poison cabinet: it was not before a year later that Meisel dared to publish them under the title Psychedelic Underground. Here's more: The double LP Disaster&Lüüd Noma was released in 1972, when the group AMON DÜÜL didn't exist anymore, and it presents further recordings from the same session. All titles are untranslatable surrealistic plays on words, the tracks, compared to the first LP, are better organized in terms of sound, less fragmentary, more clearly separated from each other and edited more sophisticatedly - the note that all glitches and errors are intentional is meant tongue-in-cheek, of course, but nevertheless has an element of truth. Now these memorable recordings are available again, remastered from the original analog tapes. As already the first record, Disaster&Lüüd Noma is a document of a zeitgeist that has remained unrepeatable. Anyone who is seriously interested in the beginnings of Krautrock cannot ignore this album - disaster is waiting just for you More

MOFAK, the funkiest producer from the south of France (Marseille), is back with a double Modern Boogie single just the way we like it!
A side: the bass of the single sets the tone over a fat beat featuring the vocals of Saïd (IAM) and Elois Scroggins! The vocoder gives us a real treat, and the chorus takes it all in and sets the dancefloor alight!
B Side : Big beats and groovy bass are the recipe for the intro, then AprilSoul takes it all in when the synthesizers kick in! Mofak on vocoder lifts the track, then the chorus kicks in and keeps us on the edge of our seats until the awesome guitar chorus forces us to play Air Guitare ! !
With this double single, Mofak confirms his Modern Boogie level of production and makes it clear that we'll have to keep a close eye on him in the shops.

A - Rock Your Money feat Saïd & Enois Scroggins
B - System 3.0 feat AprilSoul More

Cultivated Electronics starts off its 2024 release schedule with an all electro family affair from father and son duo The Advent and Zein Ferreira. "Elektronically Minded EP" is the first of two releases scheduled on the label from them this year. For this first instalment the pair turn in two tracks of expertly crafted production that pays homage to the history of the genre with their own modern twist. The A side's "Basic Channeling" is given remix treatment from Robert Witchoski a.k.a. The Exaltics who steps up the gears with a 4/4-esqe rework in his signature style. To close out the EP, remix duty stays in the family with a rework of "Syncopated", a track that features on the next EP, nephew of Cisco and cousin of Zein, Torai, who shows that high end electro production definitely runs in the veins of the Ferreira family. More