"Plastic Love" often comes to mind as the quintessential example of City-Pop, originally written and produced by Japanese power couple Tatsuro Yamashita and Mariya Takeuchi in 1984. Later in 1991 it was covered with new Cantonese lyrics by Anita Mui, and now, over 3 decades later, the pursuit to give this song new aesthetics continues with yet another cover with Anita Mui's Cantonese lyrics but with a completely different feel. What could be interpreted as relatively raw production methods is turned into a refreshing take on this classic Japanese 80's anthem. Originally recorded during golden age of Japanese technology with a highly polished sound, Xiaolin gives it a new twist with a rougher edge established by the drum machines and saturated bass echoing video game soundtracks from a bygone era, beautifully juxtaposed with her dreamy vocals. Also included, a karaoke instrumental version on the B-side.

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Prodigal son of the ESP Institute, Juan Ramos, rises from the cesspool of a world gone mad with 'Agua Del Cenote', his fifth release with the label. Whilst many artists are following their inner light to bring us some much needed joy amidst these rotten times, Juan (being the little shit that he is) follows an inner demon and delivers listeners and dancers a demented clusterfuck of sadistic chaos. The title track opens with what sounds like a butane torch and we metaphorically freebase into oblivion. Our perception of reality unravels, writhing in abrasive textures smeared across a low-slung, mid-tempo erotic thump. Everything feels blurry and distant, as if we’re swimming through an underground aquatic tunnel, in a panic, searching for an invisible band of spirits whose tune summons us into certain annihilation. Following this is a remix from a decorated lord of 20th Century electronics, Harald Grosskopf AKA The Synthesist. Harald wipes away grit and lethargy to reveal elements hidden deep within the mix as well as softens Juan’s sense of terror by building up to an optimistic layer of added synth. We’d love to offer some relief with the balance of the EP, however, the remaining two tracks paint complimentary hues in the same cerebral palette. 'Let It Go (Freaks Only)' veers closely to House in terms of tempo and gestalt, utilizing a vocal sample from Third Generation (Kerri Chandler) and a healthy dose of sub bass, but Juan hardly apologizes for his masochistic tendencies and certainly never relents into an uplifting mood. Closing the EP, Juan serves an antidote of sorts with 'Cuko', as if suggesting a way out of the swamp, but leaves it up to the listener’s intuition to not only see the carrot, but actually follow it into the light, thus completing the quest.

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Oh, Juan. We love thee, we love but thee with a love that shall not die ‘till the sun grows cold and the stars grow old. Once in a blue moon, there is a star for whom we see limitless possibilities, whose inevitably long and fruitful œuvre all but insists we do everything in our power to nurture and provide support. We diligently examine that sky, seeking rarefied meaning from an often desperate and banal universe, and over this past decade you have surely proven one of the brightest, most wondrous and tenacious cosmic forces we’ve encountered. Your kaleidoscopic wealth of personality, your emotionally urgent storytelling, your obsessive-compulsive weaving of voices siphoned from the pop culture æther, your ability to synthesize teachings from the Atlantic Northeast, Caribbean and Fatherland to pen an ever-evolving musical autobiography; these superhuman strengths are not lost on us. The 'Oxford House' EP is particularly special, as 'Fahrt Im Himmel' was our fateful introduction to your work, and though that meeting in a writhing maniacal pit of half-naked sweaty bodies was nearly five years ago, it still lives romantically close to our hearts. We just know the world will fall in love and 'Let It Go', just as we did. It’s exciting to see you merge a musical adolescence with the now evolved Juan Ramos of 'Oxford House', recognizing your significant coming-of-age and never shying away from your roots, but rather confronting and embracing them at your every turn. We will continue to champion your creative process and output, in hopes of fueling your inherent quest to illuminate uncharted regions of your vision. With all our love, always and forever, the ESP Institute.

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Juan Ramos opens his debut album with The Problem With Ambiguity and Finding Space—speaking to a societal confusion, a fragmented sense of self, and a pull toward many (often unwelcoming) directions—this turmoil in which he’s spent considerable time, sees him invest grave e?orts to express the inexpressible. Changing Hands is a time capsule of that dark period in his life, an overtly honest musical diary which puts his emotional coming-of-age on full display, hoping to reach kindred listeners. While his previous output for the ESP Institute used a certain level of complication to push limits on the dance?oor, this immersive work cuts deep in to a frayed psyche, dismantling our preconceptions of Juan and plunging listeners deep into a stew of jarring textures, incomplete phrases, and circus-like abstractions of pop culture. There is a nonchalant and unhurried experimentation that accumulates over the album’s ?rst half—disconnected and anxiety-riddled personality traits constitute various musical roles, sporadically converging in ?eeting moments of optimism although never fully climbing out from the abyss—and yet amidst this chaos there is a watershed moment in which the artist successfully gleans a golden morsel of hope from his emotional junkyard, guiding us across the threshold into the album’s second half while diligently protecting the glow of this rock bottom treasure. Juan begins to reveal his inner b-boy—a distorted view on golden-age Hip Hop roots, an a?nity for muddy break-beats, sultry loops and metaphoric interludes—the crown prince of a newly-found safe space. It’s as if he had us searching on all fours for a misplaced joint, but now that it’s ?nally lit, he assures us that everything’s going to be alright.

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After two solo releases on Lovefinger's ESP Insitute, and two more 12" as Greenvision (his collaborative project with Trent) Juan Ramos graces Berlin's Cocktail d'Amore Music with a new outstanding EP.A'Incorporeality' and 'Liquid Sky Drone' are both vibrant, hallucinating, trance inducing tracks. Full-on sonic layering and unexpected drum patterns compose these two bangers. Multidimensional is the right term to describe Ramos' music. His futuristic approach, yet full of references from the past, is gaining a strong reputation within the contemporary electronic scene.AMelbourne-Berlin based Kris Baha is on remix duties. 'Liquid Sky Drone' becomes an industrial ballad - cinematic and romantic, at the same time bouncing and synthetic.AArtwork by Boldtron, virtual reality artist based in Barcelona.

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Juan Ramos speaks twelve languages and loiters at the zoo. This is his second offering for the ESP Institute. Last year his debut dropped us at the edge of oblivion and this follow-up release picks up right where he left us—ATKM pumps right from the start with a collision of elastic percussion, tubular clinks and cranks under what sounds like fragments of our androgynous tour guide’s speech though a malfunctioning PA. Halfway through the chaos she makes a left turn toward Belgium where the drum programming fattens up and we acquire an optimistic shimmering of chords. On side B, Globalizacio´n A´cido conjures imagery of a moonlit expedition on the hunt for lord-knows-what. Many producers rely on jungle sounds, loosely appropriating some misguided sense of mysticism, but Juan rules his own kingdom where he creates an ecosystem through synthesis and digital manipulation. The narrative quality of his production knows no limits and his ability to twist machines into this chorus of cyber-creatures puts him at the top of the food chain, however, no animals were harmed in the making of these two songs

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Juan Ramos lives on planet Earth but channels voices from the aether. This is his first offering for the ESP Institute. On side A, Last Of The Natives shows us just what we’re dealing with, a master manipulator of sound and consciousness. Juan culls the toughest kick drums and thickest latex bass slaps from a deep burial in our psyche and peppers them with alien chants and fleeting electronic flutes—a combustible sense of spontaneity that may at first appear chaotic but after fully immersed in Juan’s demented world, we find ourselves willfully under his control. On side B, Enemy Of Enemy Is Friend also sets off from a disorienting place where a slow progression of acid, shakers and toms takes a good minute to allow us some footing around the groove. Once settled into his sophisticated rhythm, Juan opens the door to a glorious combination of chords, clanking guitars, shakers that scrub back and forth and the occasional smear of paranormal synth. We at the ESP Institute are enamored by Juan’s seemingly infinite skill for crafting mood and extracting optimism from darkness, but seriously, what color SpeedoTM should she wear this summer?

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Xiaolin’s previous outings on Bless You have seen her reinterpret City Pop anthem ‘Plastic Love’ by Mariya Takeuchi and the Hong Kong Pop starlet of the 1980 Prudence Liew’s ‘Afterwards’ . Now, we hear her reimagine ‘Half a Dream’ which first saw the light of day on the 1987 LP ‘City Girl’ by Tina Liu which has become a very coveted rare and deeply loved rare gem of the late 80s Cantonese language Synth-Pop canon. Alongside Xiaolin breahting new life into this hyper catchy jam with what is now her trademark of stripped back charm melded with a dexterous production style, we’ve been treated to two separate instrumental versions and gifted South Korean producer Mogwaa on remix duties; delivering a slick, dreamy dancefloor cut.


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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.

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The kind of track that makes you want to know what kind of morning routine Apiento has on a weekday, "The Orange Place" is simply an underground dancefloor classic of the 2010's that makes you realise something very special was going on with Paul Byrne's Astrological charts at the time. In his innocent words: "This was made in 2013 in a studio in East London. It was sort of made for like dark clubs that just have that glowing light which is why it was named ‘The Orange Place’. It’s fun to hear in the club as you know what it is from the first conga hits." A galloping chugger known to do serious damage on well oiled dancefloors like Pikes in Ibiza with DJ Harvey at the reins. Pure Sleazy Belgian Indiana Jones vibes, impossible to forget and very timeless, if you didn't get in on the first pressings, don't sleep on another chance. Now with full cover artwork and additional dubbed out afro cosmic remix by Castro.


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After seeing her cover of Mariya Takeuchi's "Plastic Love" flying off the shelves (earlier on BLESSYOU0021), Xiaolin is back with another cover version, this time a refreshing take on Hong Kong 80's pop starlet icon Prudence Liew's work - "Afterwards" - originally released in 1990. Xiaolin prepares another tasty recipe for the ear, clearly exposing her seasoned studio knowledge which serves as the foundation over which her powerful vocals can shine. If that wasn't enough, this release also comes with a Dub version and two remixes by non other than Tornado Wallace and Androo. A very generous package - hard to go wrong here, buy on sight.


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Benny Howell (aka DJ Subaru) is a UK based producer, DJ and overall promoter of good times who's undoubtedly propelling a new generation of music appreciation with an honourable respect for the earlier beginnings of club culture. Benny Howell might also be the pioneer of a new post-Brexit Eurodance genre, with "Surrender", a catchy Pop oriented production with strong influences from Italodisco and HiNRG, written and produced entirely from scratch with best friend Bella Quirin who co-wrote the lyrics after a break up with her ex. Innocent and charming lyrics over 120's BPM drum machine and a simple melody that you'll be humming in the back of your mind for days to come. Equipped with a Yamaha TX81Z, a few guitar pedals and a makeshift bedroom studio, "Surrender" is the product of a dear friendship between the two music lovers, as per Benny's recount: "Bella came and sung on the track in my bedroom during one of the gaps between Covid lockdowns after I asked her at the pub if she knew any singers and said me of course, and we went from just friends to best friends."
The remix on the B-side by Castro takes a darker turn into what almost sounds like a Techno version with heavy dubbed out effects taking the "Surrender" theme through an unhinged Ketamine flanger vortex. Full cover artwork and mastered at Manmade mastering in Berlin.

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Luca Trentini's 3rd release on Blessyou, further exploring and perfecting his disco sample-based recipe to dancefloor enhancement. A well put together club oriented tool kit put forth by a seasoned DJ himself, Luca shares his club secret weapons with us once again. Coming on strong on the A side at 124 BPM with a driving momentum splashed with acid nuances - peak time main room Cocktail D'Amore material. "So High!" drops down to 120 BPM with a more playful use of his sample pallets. Moving down to low 90s BPM on the B side with a downtempo chugger jungle flavoured cruise as he befriends a few animals with a lot to share, including what sounds like a Kookaburra and a few big cats. Something here for everyone.

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"Plastic Love" often comes to mind as the quintessential example of City-Pop, originally written and produced by Japanese power couple Tatsuro Yamashita and Mariya Takeuchi in 1984. Later in 1991 it was covered with new Cantonese lyrics by Anita Mui, and now, over 3 decades later, the pursuit to give this song new aesthetics continues with yet another cover with Anita Mui's Cantonese lyrics but with a completely different feel. What could be interpreted as relatively raw production methods is turned into a refreshing take on this classic Japanese 80's anthem. Originally recorded during golden age of Japanese technology with a highly polished sound, Xiaolin gives it a new twist with a rougher edge established by the drum machines and saturated bass echoing video game soundtracks from a bygone era, beautifully juxtaposed with her dreamy vocals. Also included, a karaoke instrumental version on the B-side.

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"Plastic Love" often comes to mind as the quintessential example of City-Pop, originally written and produced by Japanese power couple Tatsuro Yamashita and Mariya Takeuchi in 1984. Later in 1991 it was covered with new Cantonese lyrics by Anita Mui, and now, over 3 decades later, the pursuit to give this song new aesthetics continues with yet another cover with Anita Mui's Cantonese lyrics but with a completely different feel. What could be interpreted as relatively raw production methods is turned into a refreshing take on this classic Japanese 80's anthem. Originally recorded during golden age of Japanese technology with a highly polished sound, Xiaolin gives it a new twist with a rougher edge established by the drum machines and saturated bass echoing video game soundtracks from a bygone era, beautifully juxtaposed with her dreamy vocals. Also included, a karaoke instrumental version on the B-side.

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Anatolian Weapons is back with part two of his remix/studio work for Sound Metaphors, this time a 2 track EP featuring downtempo chuggers high in dubbed out acidity. The A side feels like a perfectly put together composition that grows with a playful industrial beat paving the way for trancey melodies to develop in unison with acid nuances. B-side goes into more percussive directions still with heavy acidity well presented in full Anatolian Weapons effect - a solid investment yielding high returns on any music focused dancefloor. Mastered to perfection at manmade mastering in Berlin.

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After his first album on BLESSYOU "Turquoise", Mogwaa aka Seungyoung Lee from Seoul is back with another stellar contribution this time re-visiting his earlier days of musical appreciation in Reggae music. This album is another entirely instrumental work with 8 tracks, effortlessly displaying his confidence in the studio when it comes to dreamy dubbed out ambient sounds intertwined with heavy digi/stepper and even dancehall influences. A refreshing treat to the ear when it comes to contemporary productions as Mogwaa approaches the Jamaican genre with a refined aesthetic of his own. From Korea with much craft and dedication for the music, a pleasure to have him back. Mastered at Manmade mastering.




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Youcef Debbihi continues to impress and surprise after already his 3rd volume as Sea of Disillusions. This 4 tracker extends what was already started and established in the previous volumes, expanding his studio excellence into more break beat oriented directions, either at high speed in the form of almost Drum'n'Bass with "K2" or slowed down as a more trip-hop tempo with "Break Whale". B-side slows down to upper 90BPM range of driving rhythm under atmospheric dubby hints of humidity "5deF", and, finalizing with a beatless Ambient mix of "Loon River" which sounds like the slow motion intro to an epic trance anthem that never fully takes off, setting the stage for something heavy to be mixed in. Essential for any reasonable DJ record bag.




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Weaponize your DJ record bag again with fresh ammo from the Greek studio machine, Aggelos Baltas does it again with another volume of remixes to the Sound Metaphors re-issue catalogues, an invigorating contemporary club touch to a wide range of dance floor material that was originally produced in the early 90s and late 80s. A new patina layer formed by the aging acid baths and chemical reactions of the experienced studio magician. Aggelos' signature atmospheric grandiosity and big room sound once again delivered with precision and high efficiency for the caring modern dancefloor. Can't go wrong.



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Adinda Dwimadasari and Dea Barandana take you on another dancefloor oriented voyage (to the Moon?) of originally written and produced contemporary disco wellness. Precious Bloom continues to carve out a sound of their own with 4 beautifully executed tracks. A selection of hand picked instrumentalists in addition to Dea's multi-instrumental studio prowess, the scene is set for Adinda's vocals to unravel in dreamy cosmic nuances from mysterious soft spoken word style voices to romantically sung lyrics in astrophysics. Truly refreshing in today's dance floor sound dominated by synthetic/digital convenience. Recorded in Jakarta and mastered in Berlin.




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Sound Metaphors gives they keys of the label's catalogue vaults to Aggelos Baltas aka Anatolian Weapons and this is the result. 5 tracks previously released on our labels now submitted to the studio prowess of the Greek machine. Dubbed out, tripped out, slowed down, sped up, mind blown. Aggelos brings his distinctive flavor to the table and re-constructs some of our dacefloor oriented favorites from the early 90's. From California's Exist Dance label to Italian underground tracks and even a Disciples' number, Aggelos cherry picks his weapons for the most spaced out of dance floors, sounding big and effective, can't go wrong.



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Trent is back on BLESSYOU with another EP. 3 new tracks further deepening his explorations in masterful sample collages borrowing heavy percussive elements from his refined library of sounds juxtaposed with patterns of wild vocals, trippy sound effects and offset sax solos. Taking you to unforeseeable places with this rhythmic whirlwind of force much in tune with the artwork featuring a 17th century wind chart for aiding sailors in nautical explorations. Powerfully mastered for grandiose club adventures.



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In a scene sometimes too polluted by clout and thirst for instant social media stardom, it's people like Mark Grusane that anchor our minds in truth, a north star that won't budge, operating outside and beyond the standards imposed by “the industry”, he is his own industry. The kind of truth and honesty minimal techno could barely dream of delivering, this is it, the culmination of so much understanding and knowledge in music. Not unlike what Mondrian did for the fine arts, so simple but so powerful. Mark Grusane condenses in sound a feeling for the dancefloor that could never be described in words, and as simple as it may sound, the driving force behind it is the product of a rich scholarship in the underground. In a time where everything has been done and creating a uniqe style of one's own, Mark Grusane achieves it so effortlessly - every single track on this EP can unmistakably only have been produced by Mark Grusane during those off-hours at his Chicago record store, Mr. Peabody.
We hope you understand. For any further inquiries, please direct your calls to the party hotline.



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After the recent Experiments re-issue with 90's off-style unclassifiable tracks composed by the legendary Dub producer - The Disciples - Androo (NS Kroo) sets out to re-create and freely adapt this material. The fact that Sound Metaphors chose Androo to re-construct these works in to new material is not random. Androo has been producing Dub since he was a teenager but he quickly turned to all kinds of musical experiences, mixing styles and influences. Once past the intimidation of working with material from one of his favorite and revered producers, Androo tried to pay homage to the free spirit that this Disciples album contains. Between reference and irreverence, the album is woven with a playful, DIY, and also serious weave. As you listen, a sometimes very harmonious and controlled landscape takes shape, then suddenly steep slopes and raw ridges appear. Almost like an art of sound drawing. A line in permanent oscillation between supposedly antagonistic registers. Danceable pieces cut for dancefloor brush against strange, problematic, and voluntarily irrecoverable elements. Consensual pop chords rub shoulders with sizzling blurred contours and sounds that are sometimes too loud. 4/4 rhythms get jackhammered out of the tempo with opulent delay effects. The “Dubmix” is here, constantly at work. It is, above all, an art of the hands, fingers handling the console which from then on becomes an instrument in its own right - for Androo Dub is experimental music.



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A 3 track EP from Anatolian Weapons diving deep into downtempo atmospheric techno productions never surpassing the 110bpm mark. A-side starts off with a 16 minute oeuvre that gently grows from a beatless 4 minute opening into a full on acid tinted percussive oasis that will make you question your sobriety. The B side offers similar generosities with two even slower excursions in synthetic dubbed out atmospheric downtempo. Vocal samples in mysterious dialects over driving bass synth energies – the perfect soundtrack to deepest psychedelic affair. Mastered by Manmade Mastering in Berlin.

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Canada’s dub maestro Deadbeat makes a welcome return to Echocord to round out the year with his ‘Pressure Double Down’ EP, comprised of three original cuts.

Adopted Montrealer, Scott Montieth aka Deadbeat has been at the forefront of dub tinged Techno and Minimal leaning sounds since the turn of the millennium, racking up albums on the beloved Pole helmed ~scape in the early 2000’s before going on to run his own label BLKRTZ where he regularly release material, as well as further releases on imprints such as Wagon Repair and of course Echocord, where he returns here with his latest collection of works.

‘Too Much Pressure’ leads the EP, a fifteen minute excursion through intricate percussion, choppy, dubbed out stab sequences and psychedelic vocals all infused with Deadbeat’s signature subtly unfurling flair and nuanced dynamism.

‘Double Bubble’ follows and lays down an amalgamation of delicately intertwined chord melodies, sub bass tones spiralling echoes and a crunchy analogue rhythm section. ‘Rattle The Roof Down’ then concludes the EP on a more minimal tinged tip, bringing a heavy low-end dub reggae bass groove to the front while spacey percussive delays and murky swells ebb and flow throughout the hypnotic groove.

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After a string of releases for labels like Eglo, Neroli and Sounds Familiar, Patrick Gibin serves up his debut album for his own Mother Tongue imprint. Filled with jazz-infused dancefloor jams like the title track and the other collaborations with Kaidi Tatham ("Gear Up Rudi!" and "Let it Go"), the album also shows a more electronic side of Patrick in cuts like "No Matter What" and "Joint Purpose (alternative mix)". His notorious love for Boogie is well represented here by "Team Spirit" and the collaboration with Sandra St. Victor, "Come Mornin'". The album closes with the mellow outro "In This Together", another title that shows the collective mindframe and ethic behind Mother Tongue in all its endeavours.
It's all about "Strength in Numbers"!

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"Plastic Love" often comes to mind as the quintessential example of City-Pop, originally written and produced by Japanese power couple Tatsuro Yamashita and Mariya Takeuchi in 1984. Later in 1991 it was covered with new Cantonese lyrics by Anita Mui, and now, over 3 decades later, the pursuit to give this song new aesthetics continues with yet another cover with Anita Mui's Cantonese lyrics but with a completely different feel. What could be interpreted as relatively raw production methods is turned into a refreshing take on this classic Japanese 80's anthem. Originally recorded during golden age of Japanese technology with a highly polished sound, Xiaolin gives it a new twist with a rougher edge established by the drum machines and saturated bass echoing video game soundtracks from a bygone era, beautifully juxtaposed with her dreamy vocals. Also included, a karaoke instrumental version on the B-side.

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Benny Howell (aka DJ Subaru) is a UK based producer, DJ and overall promoter of good times who's undoubtedly propelling a new generation of music appreciation with an honourable respect for the earlier beginnings of club culture. Benny Howell might also be the pioneer of a new post-Brexit Eurodance genre, with "Surrender", a catchy Pop oriented production with strong influences from Italodisco and HiNRG, written and produced entirely from scratch with best friend Bella Quirin who co-wrote the lyrics after a break up with her ex. Innocent and charming lyrics over 120's BPM drum machine and a simple melody that you'll be humming in the back of your mind for days to come. Equipped with a Yamaha TX81Z, a few guitar pedals and a makeshift bedroom studio, "Surrender" is the product of a dear friendship between the two music lovers, as per Benny's recount: "Bella came and sung on the track in my bedroom during one of the gaps between Covid lockdowns after I asked her at the pub if she knew any singers and said me of course, and we went from just friends to best friends."
The remix on the B-side by Castro takes a darker turn into what almost sounds like a Techno version with heavy dubbed out effects taking the "Surrender" theme through an unhinged Ketamine flanger vortex. Full cover artwork and mastered at Manmade mastering in Berlin.

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Anatolian Weapons is back with part two of his remix/studio work for Sound Metaphors, this time a 2 track EP featuring downtempo chuggers high in dubbed out acidity. The A side feels like a perfectly put together composition that grows with a playful industrial beat paving the way for trancey melodies to develop in unison with acid nuances. B-side goes into more percussive directions still with heavy acidity well presented in full Anatolian Weapons effect - a solid investment yielding high returns on any music focused dancefloor. Mastered to perfection at manmade mastering in Berlin.

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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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Precious Bloom are a music group formed in 2022 in Jakarta, Indonesia by Aradea Barandana and Adinda Dwimadasari. Aradea Barandana is better known as a global record digger and an exploratory dance music producer. He has recorded under the name of Dea or as the group “Zatua”. Adinda Dwimadasari, on the other hand, is a singer-songwriter from Jakarta who dreams of recreating the glory days of 80s Indonesian city pop music which adapted western popular music compositions to Latin jazz influences as well as the repetitive hypnotic beats of Indonesian traditional music. Her expertise in writing unique vocal melodies, cultivating harmonies and prepossessing lyrics has earned her a nomination for the Indonesian AMI awards for the best dance music category through the song “Bersinar Bersama” made in collaboration with the infamous Indonesian musical duo Diskoria and produced by Aradea Barandana. In unison they decided to form the band “Precious Bloom” with a dualistic sonic world steeped in both nostalgia and experimental bliss. Consequences is a collection of beautifully crafted tracks that could be heard playing from the radio of a taxi stuck in Jakarta's rush hour traffic or a sunset dancefloor in Ibiza. Ranging from New-Beat and Proto House to HiNRG and even bossa nova influences, the multitude of styles explored by their compositional and studio prowess is cohesively tied together by the beautiful vocal presence of Adinda. Produced in Jakarta and mastered in Berlin.

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After seeing her cover of Mariya Takeuchi's "Plastic Love" flying off the shelves (earlier on BLESSYOU0021), Xiaolin is back with another cover version, this time a refreshing take on Hong Kong 80's pop starlet icon Prudence Liew's work - "Afterwards" - originally released in 1990. Xiaolin prepares another tasty recipe for the ear, clearly exposing her seasoned studio knowledge which serves as the foundation over which her powerful vocals can shine. If that wasn't enough, this release also comes with a Dub version and two remixes by non other than Tornado Wallace and Androo. A very generous package - hard to go wrong here, buy on sight.


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Tracklisting
A1 Stones Taro - Clutch
A2 Stones Taro - Busy Lips
B1 Stones Taro - Stealthy Meow
B2 Stones Taro - Clutch (Christopher Ledger remix)

Sales Note
A Bold New Direction from Kyoto's Finest

Kyoto-based dance music label NC4K's boss, Stones Taro, delivers a daring new EP in the third installment of the NC4KWAX series. Known for his dance-floor-focused beats and impeccable sound quality, Stones Taro pushes the boundaries of his sound on this release.
The EP kicks off with "Clutch," a track that immediately captivates with its addictive vocal chops and signature Stones Taro breakbeats. The up-and-down bassline provides a solid foundation, ensuring that your speakers get a workout. "Busy Lip" follows suit, with its chaotic mix of vocal samples and percussion creating a sense of euphoria. The clap on the third beat adds a challenging yet rewarding twist to the track. The third track is pure Stones Taro, featuring a ravey breakbeat sound with trance-like elements that elevate the track to new heights. Finally, Roman producer Christopher Ledger delivers a stunning remix of the fourth track, transforming it into a tech-house masterpiece with intricate arrangements and a deep, bass-driven groove.

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After releases on his own label, The Yellow zone, dedicated to non club music, Lenny Mailleau delivers a first solo dancing music record.
Already on High Ends as Zendid, he’s back on the french label with three house/techno cuts.

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Tracklisting
A1 Mryn - Mai Tai
A2 Mryn - Talei
B1 Mryn - Just Let You Be
B2 Mryn - Mai Tai (Sakro remix)

Sales Note
French producer Mryn delivers DOD999: a mesmerising quartet of tracks that seamlessly weave through the house spectrum. Opening with the tech-tinged Mai Tai, the EP flows into the classic deep house warmth of Talei, before descending into the brooding depths of Just Let You Be. Mexican maestro Sakro closes the journey with a peak-time remix that pushes all the right buttons.



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As 2024 begins to flow onwards, what better way to accompany that than with the latest release from Oath sub-label Benthic, courtesy of label heads Lucid Void, who bring a certain kind of never-ending mood, feel, and atmosphere to the table….

The Tbilisi based duo occupy a very intriguing in-between musical space, one which touches upon the expansive feel of big yet subtle techno flourishes, progressive and floating but with a hint of melody all at once. They are able to pull at the numerous threads that the genre has expanded into, bringing together motifs of the past and the present to create something very obviously future-leaning. This hasn’t come about by mere circumstance, as the duo have spent a significant amount of time honing their craft, alongside having deep appreciation for their shared genre passions, all of which contribute to the quality and intrigue found within their music. Their previous records, which included efforts on Arts Gallery, Virtual Lounge and the 2021 release ‘Assurance’, the debut record on Benthic, all point towards a mindedness of creating bold, beautiful and thought provoking music. Deep set rhythms, delicate wobbling bass lines, and soaring metallic melodies all morph together with gusto and purpose, functionally moving through the gears but with a definite human touch – a expert interplay between human and machine, feeling, evolving, graceful.

‘Inner’ represents their most involving and expansive release to date, and the record spares no expense when it comes to covering as much ground sonically as possible. If their previous releases helped to touch upon the cornerstones of the duo’s sound, then this release acts as a summarisation of all that has come before, bringing together their aims, ambitions and musical meanderings. The record draws upon multiple frequencies and spatial dimensions in order to achieve a collectivized sound that is both broad and dense in feel, feeling its way up the walls of the mind as much as it moves through the ceiling of the club. The most significant manner in which differentials are made is the inspired use of drumming patterns to help evoke certain kinds of energy, moving through a broad spectrum of atmospheres in line with some wonderful, expressive melodic expressionism. ‘Quasar’, the opening cut, crafts a compelling yarn, with the hi hats forming a rock solid foundation for the swirling, waterfall like keys and pads which point to the stars and the infinite space that exists beyond them. ‘Escalate’ draws focus from the repeating bass note, a pulsating anchor that provides focus for the swirling tones that shift all around the peripheries and parameters of the track, encouraging the swells that linger long in the memory. ‘Transporter’ again leans into the focus on the bass note, with a particular 90s vibe being evoked here, further reinforced by the warm and thoughtful melodic notes.

The title track and ‘Signal’ move the record into a chugger space, with the regular kicks on both numbers moving the energy into the heat of the mix. The feel is one of euphoric release, allowing the rhythm rather than the mind take things away into the heavens, and it works ever so well as a counter point to the involving, tonal pieces that came before. ‘Vision’ finishes things off, and this one swings its way into hearts and minds, shifting perspective from one side of the view to the next, feeding into the human spirit and embracing the possibilities of the unknown. A fitting end to a record that promises so much, and delivers on it all – a perfect encapsulation of Lucid Void’s vision, which leaves a lasting impression.

Techno is alive and well, and it couldn’t be healthier than within the music of Lucid Void, who entice and delight listeners with their sublime take on the genre and its many offshoots. ’Inner’ is no exception, a record that doesn’t compromise or shy away from bold beautiful strokes – instead it embraces the swiftness of change, the promise found in the progressive, and the full range of emotions that people experience when engaging with melodic beauty. Moods, atmospheres and sonic environments abound within this record, pointing to many differing spaces and places, and Benthic couldn’t be prouder to feature their talents. So why not pop this one on, and drift, drift away – its quite the ride to the cosmos…..

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