Not much to say on this one, Mattias Ostling aka Rolando Simmons is back on AF. You should know what you're in for: undeniably beautiful acid stuff, somewhere between propulsive and melancholy, lush but fidgety 4/4 beats...'Terrestrial Ultra-Doula EP' is a 4-track adventure that deftly dabbles in rave, IDM, techno and beyond in classic RS style. In his own words "Every completed project is the failure of an original idea and the triumph of a successful adaptation. These tracks were inspired by a dream and my subsequent reflections on it. Playing music for others is an act of alchemy that can alter thought patterns and life paths to varying degrees. It is a formidable power to wield." Ostling is one of those artists who works in a specific continuum but adds his own touch here and there--and when it comes to reverb-drenched, acid-lashed, wound-up IDM pitter-patter, not many can do it as well, or as elegantly, as this. Word, you're gonna need this one. More

Rolando Simmons - a revered name in certain acidic circles - joins Utter for the 'Human Remains' EP, a wildly inventive 8-track adventure that deftly dabbles in rave, IDM, Techno and beyond in classic RS style. The project is the creative brainchild of Mattias Östling, who has been on a prolific production streak since the late 2000s, firstly under the name Trackermatte before settling into work under his current moniker.

This particular release is a missing puzzle-piece of sorts, compiled and sequenced by Utter's Alex Egan from a self-released digital collection titled 'Human Touch' which initially surfaced on Bandcamp during the producer's golden 2016 'Walk On Strawberries' and 'World Building' era.

'Human Touch' was a curious selection of unmastered oddities - the first Östling made using audio signal processing environment Cecilia5 - which remained largely overlooked due to its digital limbo. The tracklist itself shifted, with bonus tracks appearing then disappearing. While the excellent Dutch label 030303 cherry-picked the original version of the title track for a 2019 2xLP of the same name, the rest of the material remained frustratingly unavailable on vinyl and elsewhere, including the elusive bonus track which prompted Egan to reach out to Östling in the first place, the stunning 'sq1_mc4_iloveu03a_149unedit'.

That track is firmly at the core of this new EP, under its new title 'Nueva Traditional', as well as the alternative CV Beszállás edit of 'Human Touch'. They are surrounded by every other un-pilfered gem that originally appeared alongside them - however briefly - with all material freshly mastered and cut by Anne Taegert at D&M. The artwork and large fold-out poster (included with the 12") were designed by the Timpani Mystique Agency.

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Good job 030303 got their hands on these six tracks by Rolando Simmons as they remind you of where acid got its name from: this is music to trip to. The 303 is abused to the fullest while Simmons adds snares and outlandish melodies to the acid bubbles and bleeps that are never far away. Opener Acid Marriage is a mid-tempo, melancholic soundtrack for ravers who can't be sure of anything except they've lost the plot on the dance floor. The more downbeat second track consists of washed out melodies and deformed vocals and is unlikely to bring you back on planet earth. As you expect from a song entitled 'Home Alone 4', this one's to come down on. Montignac continues on the same tip while adding some quirkiness to. Dim, then, is a true highlight; with its driving beat, crisp hi-hats and playful acid bubbles, the track goes well with the image of a dwarf bouncing around on a horse that's way to big for his own good. The EP's final is Garden Diodes, a forcef ul upbeat track that pulls you right back into that creepy trip.


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Finally the mystery is solved. After seeing air time by jocks like Harvey and Orpheu the Wizard and causing an absolute frenzy amongst diggers world-wide going into a hopeless hunt for what was thought to be a rare unearthed Cantonese version of "Spacer Woman" from back in the day. Only to find out that it was actually a newly produced cover version by Romain FX -- we can all sleep better at night now (and actually even own a copy of the record without having to give up a kidney!). Here it is, finally, after tumultuous negotiations with the original rights owners, Hong Kong raised Romain FX's skilful efforts to give the absolute classic Italo-disco bomb a new facelift --"Spacer Woman" but now in Cantonese. Subtle but effective, he presents a new rendition with Cantonese lyrics by Cheung Yuen Tung along with a very respectful "Acid Trip Version". Get it while you can because the deal made with the original rights owners only allowed for a very limited pressing. More

This EP distinguishes itself especially for its step towards a slightly slower more atmospheric sound than the conventional Network 23 material. Simon aka Crystal Distortion, the artist responsible for the 3 tracks on this release exhibits a new pallet of sonic references which in relation to earlier material give a sense of maturation to the scene's zeitgeist. A1 almost sounds like it was pressed at the wrong speed with a slight laziness to its beat allowing it a remarkable feeling of holographic spatiality. A2 comes in at a more expected Spiral Tribe tempo, but with a more refined modality, employing sounds very reminiscent of Detroit Techno around that time. B side also merges into more digestible aesthetic in comparison to earlier material, deep sea dubby sounds juxtaposed with crunchy snares and hi hat ricochets. Another piece of the freetekno history puzzle brought back to record stores at affordable prices. Remastered at Manmade mastering in Berlin. More

Essential Item Limited Edition No Re-Press...

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Essential Item Limited Edition No Re-Press...

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Loftsoul comes back with an 3 interpretations/edits; an electrifying fusion of old and new, showcasing the enduring creativity and ability to blend genres seamlessly… More

During the early 1980s, “I Specialize In Love” by the American singer Sharon Brown, who happens to be the niece of the songwriter Phil Medley, gained popularity as a club hit. The track was officially released in March 1982 by the prominent Profile Records label based in New York City. Notably, the song marked the debut production of Eddie O Loughlin, who later went on to establish the renowned Next Plateau label. “I Specialize In Love” achieved a remarkable feat by spending three weeks at number two on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. Its success extended globally as it also charted on the UK Singles Chart and secured a position in the Dutch Top 15, solidifying its status as an international club hit. Moving on from Ben Liebrand’s Classic Rework and his more club-oriented DJ Mix of the track, it’s now time to unleash the Ben Liebrand Le Disco Mixes. You just know from the filtered kick intro, and the funky, ass-shaking bassline to expect an awesome, authentic, disco-fied party jam for today: six and a half minutes of dancefloor delight. all other singles, extended versions only. More