It’s always a pleasure to welcome Scottish producer Milton Jackson back on Freerange and this time he joins forces with a trio of Detroit heavyweights to deliver the Fire Emoji EP. Brian Kage is a producer / DJ, founder of record label Michigander and has released on esteemed labels such as FXHE and Planet E. Here, Brian is on co-production and mastering duties and helps bring a raw yet musical quality to all four tracks. HazMat Live is a Detroit native known for his unique approach to music and live performances having graced records and live shows with the likes of Kenny Dixon Jr, Amp Fiddler, Bilal, Soul Clap and Delano Smith. Finally, Jon Dixon adds his own inimitable touch to the release with his deft keyboard work. Jon Dixon not only leads the Underground Resistance live acts Galaxy 2 Galaxy and Timeline but has also performed with everyone from Jeff Mills, Carl Craig and Mike Banks through to Goldie, Leon Ware and Dwele. Lead track Fire Emoji is probably best described as a serious stomper. A paired back club tool which pumps hard and will keep the energy levels simmering on any dance floor worth its salt. Echoing vocals and reverb-drenched hits add a trippy edge whilst an extended break adds extra drama and tension to the arrangement. The Sunsetters lightens the mood with a euphoric slice of chunky, deep house which acts as the foundation for HazMat Live to deliver his epic synth solo, accompanied by lush strings, deep pads and punctuating 909 snares. Wanna C U fuses US and UK Garage sounds to form a taught, muscular club groove which will lock you in with it’s fat stabs, swinging beats and repeating sampled vocal hook. Closing out the EP we have The Shine featuring Jon Dixon on keys, who brings things to a climactic finish with his masterful jazz piano flourishes, UR-esque pads and synth lead solo.

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Black Loops is an endlessly creative producer who has brought constant invention to house music since his first release over a decade ago. His widescreen sounds take their cues from funk, soul and disco and are underpinned by a love of 90s grooves. They appeal to DJs and dancers alike which explains his constant demand for DJ sets around the world as well as his music being played and supported by the biggest names in the scene. After many years of vital 12"s and remixes, he now draws on everything he has learned and raises his levels with a fully realised debut full length. "This album represents a step forward, an opportunity to craft something more musical and intricate, both in terms of arrangement and melody," says the artist, who draws on his roots as a drummer and lays down most of the kit and percussion parts himself. The majority of the album tracks were played live to give them an organic, improvised and personalised touch, with resulting jams reworked and reshaped where necessary over the last year. Because of that fluidity, Always Moving works in many settings. The mix of hooky vocals and compelling drums ground the record with a human feel, as do the collaborations with the guest musicians Black Loops has long admired. The blissed-out broken beats of CDMX kick things off in soulful style, there's a deeper funk to Mamao (a tribute to the hugely influential Azymuth drummer Ivan Conti) and Detroit Love Letter featuring Byron The Aquarius is a warm and gooey deep house cut with majestic chords gelling the mix together. Marlena Dae is an emerging and hugely talented singer based in Berlin and features on tracks including the Metro Area-style disco bounce of Electrical and LSD as well as the weighty deep house of Experience. She also adds her stylish and seductive tones to Pleasure Ride on which Harvey Sutherland features with some cosmic synth work. Always Moving is an artistic triumph that blends a personal and musical approach to production with lived-in grooves that warm the body and soul.
The rest of this most intimate and heartfelt record features the boogie-tinged retro-future synth glow of Synesthesia, dusty drums and twinkling late-night keys of Time Space Matter and leggy downbeat lushness of Intercourse. The lo-fi and left-field Dilla-esque drums of Slow Jamz and loved-up strings and warm, bass guitar groove of Good Bye Berlin close down the record in a tender fashion.

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Black Loops is an endlessly creative producer who has brought constant invention to house music since his first release over a decade ago. His widescreen sounds take their cues from funk, soul and disco and are underpinned by a love of 90s grooves. They appeal to DJs and dancers alike which explains his constant demand for DJ sets around the world as well as his music being played and supported by the biggest names in the scene. After many years of vital 12"s and remixes, he now draws on everything he has learned and raises his levels with a fully realised debut full length. "This album represents a step forward, an opportunity to craft something more musical and intricate, both in terms of arrangement and melody," says the artist, who draws on his roots as a drummer and lays down most of the kit and percussion parts himself. The majority of the album tracks were played live to give them an organic, improvised and personalised touch, with resulting jams reworked and reshaped where necessary over the last year. Because of that fluidity, Always Moving works in many settings. The mix of hooky vocals and compelling drums ground the record with a human feel, as do the collaborations with the guest musicians Black Loops has long admired. The blissed-out broken beats of CDMX kick things off in soulful style, there's a deeper funk to Mamao (a tribute to the hugely influential Azymuth drummer Ivan Conti) and Detroit Love Letter featuring Byron The Aquarius is a warm and gooey deep house cut with majestic chords gelling the mix together. Marlena Dae is an emerging and hugely talented singer based in Berlin and features on tracks including the Metro Area-style disco bounce of Electrical and LSD as well as the weighty deep house of Experience. She also adds her stylish and seductive tones to Pleasure Ride on which Harvey Sutherland features with some cosmic synth work. Always Moving is an artistic triumph that blends a personal and musical approach to production with lived-in grooves that warm the body and soul.
The rest of this most intimate and heartfelt record features the boogie-tinged retro-future synth glow of Synesthesia, dusty drums and twinkling late-night keys of Time Space Matter and leggy downbeat lushness of Intercourse. The lo-fi and left-field Dilla-esque drums of Slow Jamz and loved-up strings and warm, bass guitar groove of Good Bye Berlin close down the record in a tender fashion.

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Black Loops is an endlessly creative producer who has brought constant invention to house music since his first release over a decade ago. His widescreen sounds take their cue from funk, soul and disco and are underpinned by a love of 90’s grooves. They appeal to DJs and dancers alike which explains his constant demand for DJ sets around the world as well as his music being played and supported by the biggest names in the scene. After many years of vital 12"s and remixes, he now draws on everything he has learned and raises his levels with a fully realised debut full length album dropping 9th May, 2025. Ahead of the LP we present the Experience EP which sees Jimpster and Black Loops himself deliver Dub versions of two of the LP’s highlights; Electrical and Experience. Jimpster kicks off with a stripped back, rolling Italo-inspired groover with touches of modular synth sequences, string stabs and dubbed out vocals. Black Loops follows with his own version keeping the funk factor intact with guitar licks, synth blips and extra fat, moog bassline. Flip over for the original of Experience featuring Marlena Dae with it’s distinctly 90’s, Vogue-era Madge mood. Black Loops then proceeds to take it to the club on his Dancefloor Dub, stripping out the vocals and working up a punchy, minimal groove for the dancers. Closing out the release we have an exclusive original, not included on the LP entitled Inmasoul. Jazzy, deep beats are the order of the day here, making for a perfect warm up track to set the mood.

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For the second edition of our City To City series we arrive in Lisboa. A city with a rich heritage of electronic music born from a strong affinity to authentic, underground dance music culture. Institutions such as Lux Fragile have carried the sound of Lisbon since it's formative years in the late 90’s. Its long-standing resident DJs now deservedly receiving global recognition and in return, introducing a wider spectrum of appreciation for the sound of the city. Some of which are included on City To City: Lisbon. Here on the second instalment of City To City we introduce six original tracks from seven artists currently making waves in Lisbon. Kicking things off we have Lisbon native, label owner and someone whose name has been firmly integrated with the city for 20+ years, Kaspar from Lisbon AKA DJ Kaspar. With releases on esteemed imprints such as Clone, 4Lux, Stripped and Chewed alongside various works on his own Percebes Musica, we're proud to have Kaspar lead the charge. Mereces provides a raw, hypnotic groove layered with chopped vocals and synth lines which creating an analogue and spontaneous feel which Kaspar has become renowned for. Next up, and picking up the pace we have DJ Honesty and his peak time club track Jazz Mutant. Thumping kick drum, choppy b-lines, intricate drums and a perfectly placed vocal at the end of the first break-down create the foundations for dance-floor pleasure. The German native and long-time Lisbon resident has previously graced the likes of Sonar Kollektiv, Compost & Cabinet and is a welcome edition to this stellar line-up of talent. Closing out the A side we have another Lisbon native, Lux regular and label / record shop owner Jorge Caiado. Jorge is a staple on many a line-up across the city and now internationally flying the flag for the deep-house sound of Lisboa. DJing far and wide from Chicago and Berlin to Beijing and Toronto, Jorge can be heard pushing his minimal deep house sound through his sets and releases on Carpets & Snares, Groovement and the sister label of Chez Damier’s Balance Recordings, Inner-Balance. Jorge has provided the beautifully crafted Good Days for this release which see him layering up the textures, floaty synths, soulful vocal chops & melodic top-lines providing something which truly nourish the soul. Proper deepness! Flipping over we have UK born & Lisboa based Megatronic. Having recently released on labels such as Razor n Tape, Feedasoul and The Remedy Project, Megatronic has firmly established herself as a global artist. A maverick tour de force, she brings her infectious energy to the release via a bumping vocal house track with touches of Bruk vibes entitled Casey Screams. Next up we have Lisboa local and someone who has their feet deeply-rooted to the culture of the city, Moreno Ácido delivering a track entitled Until The Break of Dawn. Mario is diverse in his productions with previous output ranging from tougher, jackin’ tracks such as 100 Controls from his Trash/Treasure EP on Call To Action through to deep, intricate late night moods such as Until The Break Of Dawn. Closing out this special release we have two names most synonymous with the underground sound of Lisbon and more specifically the institution of Lux Fragil; Yen Sung & Photonz. The duo have previously worked together on projects such as Angel Rights on their own imprint Alphabet Street Music and we’re excited to have them provide a thumping track, heads down groover to close the EP. Changes is straight to the point. Rolling bassline, in your face stabs and a heavy dose of kick drum. Something you’ll hear at Lux on any given weekend and a fitting close to a brilliant VA representing all corners of the deeper side of Lisboa.

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After 5 million Spotify plays for Turn Me On, 2 million for Move & the first press of the record selling for over £100 on Discogs. Demuja's Move EP was well overdue a repress .. so here it is!

On Demuja's Freerange debut, the Move EP offers up four original tracks, each with their own distinct flavour. Opening the release we have title track Move spring into action with simple Rhodes chords floating across a crisp, driving up-tempo groove showing off the deeper side to Demuja.

Next up B.O.O.M offers us a simple yet captivating, dancefloor-focused affair with a lone, repeating piano stab hooking us into the action.

Flipping over we have Into My Brain which brings some acid-tinged Italo vibes and a jacking beat to proceedings whilst the closing track Turn Me On cuts up a much loved Paradise Garage classic for a warm, soul-infused slice of classic, bumpy house music.

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As Freerange hits another landmark release with their 300th EP we see label head Jimpster join forces with Philippa who together deliver 3 original tracks which epitomise the labels’ sound over the past (almost) three decades. With recent releases appearing on Slothboogie and Razor n Tape, remixes for Roach Motel on Faith, and James Curd and Robert Owens on Pronto, not to mention her recent Panorama Bar debut, it’s safe to say Philippa is making waves. The Berlin-based New Zealander has a sound all her own with an organic, deep and musical style winning her many fans from Terry Farley and Aroop Roy to DJ Spen and Dave Lee. Lead track All I Wanted sees the duo pooling their influences with both producers sonic touches shining through. Chunky drums and bassline are the bedrock for pulsing synths and MON’s vocal which is chopped up and looped bringing a rolling momentum to the track. Dreaming features the wonderful vocals of Care and goes on a floaty vibe with chiming synths and crusty Rhodes keys layering up to produce a densely textured track. The mood is powerful yet subtle and refined and will work as nicely on a chilled house playlist as it will on a discerning dance floor at 4am. Closing out the EP we have Say What which goes on a jazzed out, UKG inspired excursion. Shuffling beats, bouncing square wave bassline and big brash synth chords all combine to form a track which sounds both retro and contemporary.

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Freerange welcomes back dutch producer Yannick Roberts for his follow up to his 2022 I Can’t Hide From Myself EP. That release gained club spins and chart support from the likes of Dave Lee, Jamie 3:26, Luke Solomon and Fred Everything and became a hit with lovers of deep, disco-influenced Detroit house sounds as championed by fellow countrymen such as Dam Swindle, Fouk and Nachtbraker. Opening track Grace sets the tone with a chunky groover guaranteed to set the right mood on the dance floor. Next up Yannick picks up the pace with Anyone (This Late At Night Mix) which uses syncopated synth stabs and a simple two note bassline to create peak time energy levels. Amsterdam Nights keeps things bubbling along nicely with fat 909 beats, piano stabs and intense vocal samples while the EP closes out in fine fashion with All For You. Four tracks which perfectly demonstrate Yannick’s knack for producing quality club tunes.

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Ralph Session is a producer who has been making his mark on the house music scene dropping quality underground house music since 2009. The New Yorker, now based in Barcelona, has racked up well received releases on some of the hottest labels around including Razor n Tape, Local Talk, Nervous, Moulton Music, Large and Exploited and continues to head up his own label Half-Assed as a platform to curate the culturally deep sound of his native New York City. For his Freerange debut he’s joined forces with LA producer and vocalist Juliet Mendoza who can also be found dropping gems for the likes of Planet E, Ocha and Shaboom. Freak sees Ralph stay true to his roots once again with all the US house hallmarks present and correct. Muscular beats keep things punchy and with plenty of weight and energy whilst the simple stabs and vibraphone hook and just the right touch of musicality without getting in the way of the all important groove. Juliet Mendoza adds the icing on the cake with her spoken word urging you to cut loose on the dance floor. Detroit’s own Ladymonix steps up for remix duties and turns the Freakometer up to 11. Fresh from output on her own Frizner Electric label as well as Planet E, Toucan Sounds and Studio Barnhus, she twists things into an otherworldly house jam which will lock you into it’s minimal groove. By glitching out the vocal and keeping the groove stripped to the core Ladymonix has created a club track that will stick in your head long after the lights come up. In addition to these two versions we also have Ralphs own Brooklyn Bounce Mix and an instrumental to get your teeth stuck into.

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Jimpster delivered some great releases in 2023, most notably his Natural Child collab EP with Crackazat as well as his Tribute EP featuring South African vocalist Mavhungu and including heavy Osunlade remixes. He also produced some of his best remixes to date including Thakzin’s Don’t Let Me See, Blaze’s Wonderland and Detroit Rising’s Rocket Love.

It’s always a good day to announce a new Jimpster EP on Freerange and with two captivating originals plus a stunning Atjazz remix you’re in for a treat! You’re My Ecstasy sets the tone with Jimpster’s trademark deep Rhodes pads, punchy bassline and shuffling classic house drum groove. He once again manages to strike a great balance between soulful, musical, warm and just a touch moody.

Next up we have The Passion which builds a deep and jazzy mood around a 4 bar piano progression whilst the sampled interviewee gives his insight into how he maintains his passion for music. London based trumpet player KingCrowney adds some lovely horn parts, emphasising the jazz feel to compliment the spoken word.

Atjazz gets well and truly stuck in on his remix of The Passion. Reportedly completed in just two studio sessions the hardest working man in deep house (as Jimpster calls him) brings his well-loved deft touch introducing an beautifully syncopated bassline and classic Atjazz drums making for a clubby interpretation for the deep, discerning dance floors.

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City To City: Johannesburg is the first in a new series of V/A releases which will shine a light on exciting producers from a different city for each edition. What better place to start than The City Of Gold, somewhere synonymous with deep and soulful house and whose scene and artists have finally begun to get global recognition despite the relative geographical isolation. Labels such as Kid Fonque’s Stay True Sounds have been an important platform for South African artists and who can deny the incredible journey of Black Coffee. Deep house really is a way of life for many young people growing up in often challenging conditions and it’s been exciting to see many becoming known outside of their own country and starting to gig internationally.

Here on the debut City To City we showcase 6 tracks from 6 different artists hailing from Johannesburg, relative newcomers rubbing shoulders with more established names. Kicking off the release we have one such producer who has been slowly but surely stamping his mark over the last 10 years: KaySoul. With output having appeared on labels such as Shall Not Fade, Dirt Crew, Lazy Days and Tribe KaySoul is definitely making waves with his soulful take on the South African deep sound. Icey Baby featuring Mr Beale keeps things raw and minimal, letting the vocal stay front and centre, a naivety and playfulness giving an almost demo-feel to the production.

Sculpturedmusic steps up next with Midnight Talk. Another SA artist who has earned his stripes with some huge tracks including Sad To Think which deservedly became a substantial hit, Sculpturedmusic’s contribution to the release keeps things deep, percussive and rolling with an African vocal sample backed up by pensive piano chords.

With just a handful of releases on his own Herbal Soundz label as well as the much lauded vinyl label Adeen, SizLeCaude is one of the exciting up and coming artists worthy of attention. Taking a classic early 00’s deep house approach on Far Apart he reminds us of the output Ben Watt’s Buzzin’ Fly sounding both timeless and contemporary with buckets of warmth and soul.

Flipping over we have Love (Kinda Thing) from Radic The Myth whose harmonically rich take on house music brings a floating yet punchy feel to the release.

Persie Botta joins forces with Jade Nickels on the next track entitled They Never Loved Us. The duo deliver a sublime slice of true Joburg-style deep house with lush layers of pads, reverb-soaked pads, snaking sub bass and a powerful, low slung groove.

Last but not least we close out the release with Thabang Baloyi who joins fresh from releases on established SA labels Just Move and Basement Art. Lost In goes in DEEP with a syncopated snare groove and simple, repeating vocal line.

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Aroop Roy’s star is deservedly in the ascendancy! As one of London’s most exciting selectors, he’s managed to position himself in the sweet spot of being the DJ’s DJ and causing wild scenes wherever he plays, with headline grabbing sets at Defected Croatia, We Out Here, Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide and many more. As a producer, musician and label owner, he continues to excel, armed with a vast knowledge of outernational sounds, from rare African disco, jazz, funk, to house, UKG and seemingly everything in-between. His open-minded approach has led to brilliant releases and remixes for labels as diverse as Soundway, Heavenly Sweetness, Permanent Vacation, Club Bad, Delusions of Grandeur, Atjazz Recordings and his own Vive La Musique imprint. Having played a few gigs together, it was only a matter of time before Jimpster convinced Aroop to get an EP together for Freerange and the resulting Re Bulele EP couldn’t be any more satisfying! Leading the charge, 'Mama Mwana' captivates with entrancing thumb piano loops and a traditional African vocal all propped up by a subtle yet chunky house beat to lock the dancers in. 'Re Bulele' features the hypnotic vocals of Botswana native Fox Meropa. Aroop masterfully combines a deep, techy Afro House groove with glassy synth pads to form a stripped back instrumental with the vocals front and centre. Seemingly disparate elements shine on this wonderful alternative to the deluge of maximal Afro House tracks being released these days. Moroccan producer FNX Omar delivers the goods with a sublime remix of Re Bulele. Creating tension with layers of looping vocals along with a rolling, percussive groove. Like the original, this remix transcends genres and will create special moments on the dancefloor, whether it be in a dark, sweaty basement or daytime festival in the sunshine.

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New Zealander via Berlin Philippa is a producer and DJ whose passion for house music, tireless commitment to her craft and ear for what makes a dance floor tick is slowly and surely starting to pay off. With her recent release Rainy Nights on Slothboogie and Things I’d Like To Be for Razor n Tape getting a lot of love Philippa continues to deliver the goods and has led to remixes for Fat Freddy’s Drop (The Drop) and Roach Motel (Faith). Here on the Latent Magic EP we’re treated to three new tracks which highlight Philippa’s deft touch and musical approach to making interesting and left field house music. Opener Hold sets the tone with lush orchestral strings, crunchy drums and a bouncing analogue synth bassline which drives the track along perfectly. Latent Magic uses a similarly wide-ranging sound palette, mixing up the electronic and organic, but goes heavier on the epic, arpeggiating synths for a spacious and uplifting genre-defying track to lift the spirits. Closing out we have There It Is which has hints of Mr Scruff with looping horn stabs, live drum groove and rolling electric bassline. All in all another mighty fine Philippa release which reminds us of the early days of Freerange when artists such as Square One, Shur-i-kan and Jimpster were melding live musicians with electronics to make a refreshing, UK-centric take on house music.

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Freerange regular Simbad is back with a new 4 track EP following on from his 2021 Peaceful Revolution EP which got big support from Ron Trent, Gilles Peterson, Osunlade and Horse Meat Disco to name a few. Having based himself in Cape Town the last 5 or so years, the French born producer and DJ is one of the most prolific artists in the scene having notched up countless EP’s, remixes and production work for labels like Apron, G.A.M.M. Faces, Hyperdub, Atjazz, BBE & Brownswood. His association with Gilles Peterson and Worldwide runs deep, hosting regular shows on WWFM as well as traversing the globe delivering his unique and eclectic sets from Africa to Asia and beyond. Lead track Nuphoria kicks things off in typical Simbad genre-bending style, sitting in a sweet spot between the Baltimore house of Karizma, the epic, uplifting techno of Laurent Garnier and the UK-centric rave sounds of Bicep and Kieren Hebden. Not an easy track to pigeon-hole but one that can’t fail to grab the dancers attention if dropped at the right time on a discerning dance floor. Up next we have Dream featuring SA native Sanele who delivers a beautiful, raw and intimate vocal performance which fits perfectly with Simbads’ roughed-up drums and chiming Rhodes chords. Flipping over Simbad delivers an alternate Pretoria Mix of Nuphoria which slows the pace of the original, adds a more rhythmic bassline and spoken word sample. A deeper alternative to the original which retains the euphoric quality thanks to its epic synth line and chords. Closing out the release we have Wake Up featuring Frederick of Fifty Fathoms Deep who contributes to a bright and breezy house track with soulful chords and bouncing square wave bass line.

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Two leading lights of UK house join forces for a special collaboration which delivers every bit as much as you would expect from anything with the Jimpster & Crackazat stamp on. Having been introduced to Crackazat’s vocal and lyric writing on his acclaimed Evergreen LP from last year Jimpster was keen to team up to bring some of that flavour to his own sound. Born out of a desire to stretch outside of their comfort zones, and with a mutual respect for each others productions, the Natural Child EP brings us two original vocal tracks and two dub versions covering a spectrum of moods from classic soulful to deep, atmospheric, contemporary house. Opening track Natural Child leads the charge with Crackazat’s trademark jazz-influenced piano part, swirling moog lines and vocal being complimented with Jimpster’s punchy drums and warm, rounded bassline. The result is a spacious and deceptively simple track which will wrap you up in its warm confines.Next up we have a completely different take on Natural Child which ups the BPM and adds a more live, percussive and rolling vibe which will no doubt get the house dancers throwing down. My Harmony comes next with its slick and soulful sound which draws inspiration from golden era NYC sounds of Blaze and Louie Vega while Nick Cohen’s live bass brings a bounce to the chunky, shuffling house beats. Closing out the EP we have a dub version of My Harmony which loops up the Rhodes part, strips back the groove and adds layers of FX and arpeggiating synths resulting in a heads-down deep and soulful track to warm up the dance

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Soul Clap’s House of EFUNK label record label celebrates the 10th anniversary of their party of the same name that’s been ongoing each year at Movement Festival since 2014. The EFUNK party is commemorated with a 4-track house compilation that showcases some of the city’s finest talent. DJ Minx’s late night soulful house affair 'Sweet' bubbles with her seductive vocals set against percolating rhythms, romantic chords, and funky trumpets. Marcellus Pittman’s '888 In The Groove' is a chugging instrumental house jam that is surrounded in swirling synth arpeggios and cosmic pads centered by a hefty kick and meaty bass line. Mike (Agent X) Clark’s 'Where You Get That Funk From' pays reimagines the bright funk of Parliament-Funkadelic inside of a brooding and dank deep house beat with a loping bass line. On sillygirlcarmen’s 'Good Times' she delivers an angelic vocal performance with an uplifting message on her minimal but classic Detroit house sounding track.

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Inaugural release from the Universo Positivo records label featuring Orlando Voorn alongside the late Amp Fiddler on a very soulful house tip. Contains remixes from Wade Teo and Soul Clap.

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Vocal house duo Bäs Noir’s ‘My Love Is Magic’ receives edits from British DJs Bushwacka! and Mark Broom on Nu Groove. Hailing from Philly, the female duo of Morie Bivens and the late Mary Ridley first released ‘My Love Is Magic’ as Bäs Noir in 1988, with the Rhano Burrell production going on to chart in the UK. Today, the record remains a favourite of tastemakers everywhere, with Big Love label boss Seamus Haji dropping the OG at Defected Croatia in 2023. The hugely influential British DJ and producer Bushwacka! now returns to the legendary NYC label Nu Groove, following his four-track EP ‘House Sounds Vol. 1’, to bring out the percussive power of ‘My Love Is Magic’ with its distinct piano bassline and modern synth work. Also a Nu Groove returnee, the seasoned DJ Mark Broom delivers a techno A-12 Edit and house Dub Re-Touch of the Bäs Noir vocal house staple.

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TO COMMEMORATE THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PASSING

DEFECTED HONOURS FRANKIE KNUCKLES WITH SPECIAL EDITION ‘HOUSE MASTERS’ VINYL

Defected celebrates the life and legacy of house music pioneer Frankie Knuckles with a limited-edition vinyl offering of his notable ‘House Masters’ release.

Marking ten years since his passing, join Defected in honouring the enduring legacy of house music pioneer. All proceeds of ‘House Masters: Frankie Knuckles’ will be donated to Frankie Knuckles Foundation as it was when the compilation was originally released back in April 2015.

“Frankie Knuckles, whom many consider to be one of the architects of house music is still highly influential to a new generation. Since his untimely passing ten years ago it has been incredible to see the continued outpouring of love and respect that he has received. His legacy is why the Frankie Knuckles Foundation exists. Through our work we honour him by supporting initiatives that he was passionate about: music education, AIDS and diabetes research, prevention and LGBTQIA+ youth homelessness. This commemorative vinyl release of ‘House Masters’ in association with Defected will allow us to do just that!”

Frederick Dunson, Founder, President & Executive Director, Frankie Knuckles Foundation

The forthcoming vinyl releases will feature a selection of his finest productions and remixes including the seminal ‘Your Love’, ‘The Whistle Song’ and remixes for Chaka Khan and Sounds Of Blackness.

Find out more about Frankie Knuckles Foundation and its commitment to educating and supporting initiatives across LGBTQIA+ communities and AIDs prevention here: https://thefkfoundation.org/

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: gpsr@wordandsound.netMore

“It’s just too easy to make a standard dance track,” Aphex Twin said of his mindset back in 1992. “You’ve got to put a bit of thought into it to get something a bit different.” ‘Didgeridoo’ was released on the Belgian R&S Records label in 1992, and originally peaked at #55 in the UK singles chart in May of that year. Over the last 32 years the track has become one of the essential Aphex Twin tracks in a gargantuan catalogue that continues to amaze and inspire. “I wanted to have some tracks to play to finish the raves I used to play in Cornwall, to really kill everybody off so they couldn’t dance,” Richard D James, AKA Aphex, told Select magazine back in the 90s. “Digeridoo came out of that.” Released as a 4 track EP that also included early Aphex productions (now classics) including the industrial, acidic clang of ‘Flap Head’ and hyperbolic futurism of ‘Isopropanol’, the release cemented a relationship with the R&S label that went on to release the ‘Xylem Tube’ EP and the pivotal album ‘Selected Ambient Works 85-92’ in the same year. The label’s owner & A&R Renaat Vandepapeliere reflected “When I first heard Aphex Twin’s music I said, ‘This is it!’, and everybody else said, ‘You’re crazy!’ …a lot of the hardcore R&S fans dropped us. To them it wasn’t music.” ‘Didgeridoo’ (Expanded Edition) is the first time the EP has been re-issued with extra material. Whilst digging in his DAT archive (allegedly stored in an airtight military ammo box), Richard James revisited the recordings, encoding them through a Nakamichi CR7e cassette deck, using the customised deck with vari-speed to encode at speeds “felt right at the time”. Alongside these CR7e versions, the original mixes have been remastered by Beau Thomas at Ten Eight Seven Mastering, offering a dilated insight into one of electronic music’s most endearing releases.

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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: gpsr@wordandsound.netMore

The 1st Single....
Analogue Stories Vol 1 kicks off with“That Real Live” a spoken word riff from a classic New York film, depicting a tale of the Warriors street gang traversing the five boroughs in an effort to get home, sets the tone for this analogue excursion. Wrapped in “Abacus” synthetics and dub echo guitars. Warm, rich deepness for your solar plexus! “Ignition sequence starts…” Channeling “Sun Ra” Austin cooks up a hypnotic lo-end wiggler filled with arpeggios and synths, topped off with haunting melodies and rhythmic nuances. To quote “Sun Ra” ….Space is the place “ On the B Side “Blacktronica”… a homage to the Belleville 3, The Detroit second wave, Wally Badarou, Herbie Hancock, George Clinton and all the melanated electronic experimenters past and present. Abacus concocts some machine funk for your soul. Rounding out the Analogue Stories is “In4mation”, a play on word structure begging the question “Do we all get the same information?” With subtle grooves ,warm stabbing synths and a fluted rushes of melody , this one will make you say ummm....

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: gpsr@wordandsound.netMore

Glasgow based Seated Records return with more 1980s Scottish Post-Punk / New Wave material. In this 8-track mini compilation the label introduces the work of Stirling band 22 Beaches, offering a deep dive into music recorded between 1980-1984 - the majority of which has never seen the light of day!

22 Beaches formed in Stirling in the late 1970s as an evolution of the short lived group ‘Alone at Last’ - drummer Fred Parson’s and guitarist Stephen Hunter being the two who spanned the divide. Out of the six members of 22 Beaches, many were school friends, and the rest naturally fell together. The band toured extensively and played at a truly diverse set of venues across the UK: from a local swimming pool boiler room, to small nightclubs and university parties, to several fundraisers for the miners strike. Maybe most notably of all, drummer Fred Parsons described playing at what he calls “the Grangemouth International”, organised by local promoter Brian Guthrie and which featured an all-star lineup of 22 Beaches, The Exploited and the first incarnation of The Cocteau Twins. A coach was hired to ship the audience to Grangemouth from Stirling, the cost of which was included in the ticket. The gig then paused halfway through for a 'help yourself' buffet. Young promoters take heed. This is how it's done!

Over the course of the 80s the band released music on three different, and now sought after, various artists compilation cassettes. “What Day Is It?” and “Sadie When She Died” were released on a compilation of local Stirling artists 'The A.N.K.L.E File'. The track from which the current record takes its namesake - “Dust” - was initially released on a compilation-tape for the fanzine 'Another Spark'. And ‘‘Zoo” (also featured on this record) was first released on Glasgow label Pleasantly Surprised via compilation, 'An Hour Of Eloquent Sounds', where 22 Beaches rubbed shoulders with early music from Scottish names Primal Scream, Cocteau Twins, The Wake and Sunset Gun. Unfortunately, 22 Beaches never met the same level of commercial success as these others and decided to retire the project in 1984 - leaving their recordings and demos to gather dust (hehe)…until now!

This compilation, “Dust: recordings 1980-1984” follows the band's journey and the changes in their sound over the years. It moves from the raw, punk energy of early DIY recordings through to the A Certain Ratio style Balearica of their later pieces. The record's opener and title track “Dust” is perhaps the most shining example of the latter. Characterised by the plenitude of sonic space in the mix, “Dust” has an almost dub sensibility that is communicated through centrality of Parsons’ drums, McChord’s percussion, and Fildes’ Bass while the harmonising vocals of Sharkey and McGregor chant over the top to give the track its distinctive psychedelic edge. This is an atmosphere only exacerbated by the lofi quality of the recording which sits the vocals in the same aural realm as much 1960s psych-folk. On “Cartoon Boy”, the band strips things down further. A droning bass line persists through the tape fuzz and is accompanied by the sounds of a sole looping guitar chord sequence and McGregor and Sharkey’s vocals - respectively and carefully dancing around one another before harmonising in the most beautiful way. The result is a haunting and abstract Marine Girls style heartbreaker. ‘That Girl’ again delivers a dub adjacent rhythm section similar to that of “Dust”. However, on this instance crisp guitar chords, a distant, phased organ and blue-eyed soul vocal delivery, produce a track that could easily have been a lost Orange Juice recording from their sessions with Dennis Bovel. On “Somebody Got It Wrong” and “One Of Us” the band employ a more macro approach where a jangling guitar with an almost highlife-influenced tone, vocal ad-libs and syncopated percussion give the music a Talking Heads-esque swagger.

Taken together these tracks illustrate a clear trajectory in the band's sound, moving from from the high energy no-wave quality of early recordings towards a more dub influenced, and stripped-back sound - a sonic trajectory followed by so many bands of the time, not least those emerging from the diaspora of Manchester’s Factory Records.

On “Breathing’’ we hear the beginning of this transition, with the strong influence of the oddball NYC disco styles of Was (Not Was) and ZE records. All of this is meshed together with the residual punk rock energy of 1980s UK. This combination is employed to excellent effect with the addition of the distinctly Scottish (and what the band confirmed to me to be spontaneous) vocal delivery of: “Do you love me? Do you want me?” “Aye!” “Do you love me? Do you need me?” “Naw!”.

On the record’s closing tracks, “Zoo” and “Talent Show”, we hear early examples of the band’s work, playing with their rawest all-in-one-take live energy where Hunter’s spiralling guitar riffs and McGregor's distorted vocal exclamations lead the charge. The band recalls that these initial-forays did not always translate so well into multitrack recording and overdubbing: “the deconstruction took away some of the band's natural feel”. On “Talent Show” the record ends with Sharkey delivering an almost unintelligible spoken word section over the top of the track, making for one final, disorientating, almost manic slice of post-punk.

These tracks from 1980-1984 chart the progress of a unique contribution to the world of Scottish Post-Punk and New Wave, encapsulating not only the musical trajectory of 22 Beaches but also echoing the broader sonic landscape of 1980s UK, a testament to the adaptability and creativity of the UK’s underground music of the time.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: gpsr@wordandsound.netMore

TO COMMEMORATE THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PASSING

DEFECTED HONOURS FRANKIE KNUCKLES WITH SPECIAL EDITION ‘HOUSE MASTERS’ VINYL

Defected celebrates the life and legacy of house music pioneer Frankie Knuckles with a limited-edition vinyl offering of his notable ‘House Masters’ release.

Marking ten years since his passing, join Defected in honouring the enduring legacy of house music pioneer. All proceeds of ‘House Masters: Frankie Knuckles’ will be donated to Frankie Knuckles Foundation as it was when the compilation was originally released back in April 2015.

“Frankie Knuckles, whom many consider to be one of the architects of house music is still highly influential to a new generation. Since his untimely passing ten years ago it has been incredible to see the continued outpouring of love and respect that he has received. His legacy is why the Frankie Knuckles Foundation exists. Through our work we honour him by supporting initiatives that he was passionate about: music education, AIDS and diabetes research, prevention and LGBTQIA+ youth homelessness. This commemorative vinyl release of ‘House Masters’ in association with Defected will allow us to do just that!”

Frederick Dunson, Founder, President & Executive Director, Frankie Knuckles Foundation

The forthcoming vinyl releases will feature a selection of his finest productions and remixes including the seminal ‘Your Love’, ‘The Whistle Song’ and remixes for Chaka Khan and Sounds Of Blackness.

Find out more about Frankie Knuckles Foundation and its commitment to educating and supporting initiatives across LGBTQIA+ communities and AIDs prevention here: https://thefkfoundation.org/

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: gpsr@wordandsound.netMore

Sounds as diverse as Tropical Disco, Afro Funk, Highlife, Juju, Disco, Soukous & more combine effortlessly on the Debut full LP from Bosq & Kaleta. Brilliant songwriter and former member of legendary African groups like Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 & King Sunny Ade’s African Beats, Kaleta helms the vocal duties with his signature chants in a mixture of Yoruba, Goun, French, English & Fon.

Bosq brings his renowned balance of organic & electronic production to give the album a current but timeless feel. A fantastic cast of guest musicians from as far and wide as Colombias Choco region on the Pacific Coast, to Brooklyn, to Port Novo, Benin & Lagos Nigeria bring a depth of musicianship & musical histories to the beautiful group of tracks.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: gpsr@wordandsound.netMore