7"
backorder
Label:Kahdaffie Revealers
Cat-No:DKR-305
Release-Date:26.09.2025
Genre:Dub/Reggae
Configuration:7"
Barcode:
backorder
Last in:07.10.2025
+ Show full info- Close
backorder
Last in:07.10.2025
Label:Kahdaffie Revealers
Cat-No:DKR-305
Release-Date:26.09.2025
Genre:Dub/Reggae
Configuration:7"
Barcode:
1
Junior Kahdaffie - Special Request To All Notch
2
Junior Kahdaffie - Special Effects Version
One of our all time favorite New York dancehall tunes, finally back again. 20+ years ago, in a different era of reggae record collecting where there was little to no information to be found about so many '80s reggae records, the original 12 inch single of this one was a mythical tune among our set of friends. In fact this one was on the earliest DKR wish lists, but all good things take time. By now we expect most of our followers know Junior's digital masterpiece "Rampers Music", which we first issued in 2014, and is now back in stock. But this one is his earliest and first tune, a heavy piece of a rub a dub cut at Munchie Jackson's Sunshine Studio in the Bronx, with Jackie Mittoo at the helm of the session. The original 12 inch was self released by Junior on his own label in 1985, with one of our all time favorite label designs. The lyrics are a great snapshot of mid 80s New York, a nod to all those making their way, for better or worse, thru the posses and cliques of the Jamaican scene of the day.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Customers who bought this also bought this
Label:Wood White Sessions
Cat-No:WWS02
Release-Date:06.02.2026
Genre:Dub/Reggae
Configuration:LP Excl
Barcode:
backorder
Last in:01.06.2026
+ Show full info- Close
backorder
Last in:01.06.2026
Label:Wood White Sessions
Cat-No:WWS02
Release-Date:06.02.2026
Genre:Dub/Reggae
Configuration:LP Excl
Barcode:
1
Tubby Isiah - Soul Catcher
2
Tubby Isiah - Astral Traveler
3
Tubby Isiah - Low Rise (Original)
4
Tubby Isiah - Low Rise (Version)
5
Tubby Isiah - Glide
6
Tubby Isiah - Empire
7
Tubby Isiah - Long Time (Original)
8
Tubby Isiah - Long Time (Version)
LP non-returnable!
Tracklist:
A1 Soul Catcher
A2 Astral Traveler
A3 Low Rise (Original)
A4 Low Rise (Version)
B1 Glide
B2 Empire
B3 Long Time (Original)
B4 Long Time (Version)
Wood White Sessions, the new sub label of Berlin based Sushitech Records dedicated to laid back, atmospheric dub presents its second release.
Roots For Your Soul, the new 12” album from Bristol’s Tubby Isiah, marks their second full length outing.
Featuring right stunning tracks, the record blends fresh material with carefully unearthed, previously unreleased archive sessions.
Together, these pieces form a heartfelt dub journey, rich with warm textures and unmistakable sonic character that define the Tubby Isiah’s sound.
Mastered at Wood White Studios and beautiful finished with artwork by in-house designer Scott Cottrell.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Tracklist:
A1 Soul Catcher
A2 Astral Traveler
A3 Low Rise (Original)
A4 Low Rise (Version)
B1 Glide
B2 Empire
B3 Long Time (Original)
B4 Long Time (Version)
Wood White Sessions, the new sub label of Berlin based Sushitech Records dedicated to laid back, atmospheric dub presents its second release.
Roots For Your Soul, the new 12” album from Bristol’s Tubby Isiah, marks their second full length outing.
Featuring right stunning tracks, the record blends fresh material with carefully unearthed, previously unreleased archive sessions.
Together, these pieces form a heartfelt dub journey, rich with warm textures and unmistakable sonic character that define the Tubby Isiah’s sound.
Mastered at Wood White Studios and beautiful finished with artwork by in-house designer Scott Cottrell.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
12" Excl
in stock
Label:Avenue 66
Cat-No:AVE66-20.1
Release-Date:26.09.2025
Genre:Electronic, Electronica
Configuration:12" Excl
Barcode:4251804186070
in stock
Last in:18.09.2025
+ Show full info- Close
in stock
Last in:18.09.2025
Label:Avenue 66
Cat-No:AVE66-20.1
Release-Date:26.09.2025
Genre:Electronic, Electronica
Configuration:12" Excl
Barcode:4251804186070
1
Jonquera - Cause & Utility
2
Jonquera - Tales Of Decay
3
Tolouse Low Trax - Amp
4
Tolouse Low Trax - Solid Rock
Tracklist
A1. Jonquera – Cause & Utility
A2. Jonquera – Tales Of Decay
B1. Tolouse Low Trax – Amp
B2. Tolouse Low Trax – Solid Rock
Info:
Avenue 66 opens Series 33 with a Düsseldorf–Lyon connection.
Jonquera first encountered Tolouse Low Trax a decade ago in a small Lyon club. That night, his hypnotic slow-motion set was cut short, yet it left a lasting imprint. The Düsseldorf artist’s mechanical psychedelia, and the influence of the Salon collective have been a constant touchstone for
Jonquera, even inspiring playful “Düsselcore” edits in his Tera Octe days.
After several LPs, Jonquera returns to the EP format with Cause & Utility / Tales of Decay. Built from improvised drum, bass, and vocal recordings, the tracks are reworked through heavy looping and acoustic treatment, a method inspired by his recent live shows. Cause & Utility revolves around the
abstract idea of two dogs as concepts, enriched by the earthy drone of a hurdy-gurdy. Tales of Decay paints a surreal image of a house losing its rooms like a body shedding parts.
The MPC sorcerer Tolouse Low Trax, aka Detlef Weinrich, brings his Düsseldorf circuitry and autobahn funk with two tracks of pure rhythm apparition. Amp is a quintessential Tolouse Low Trax cut, built on concealed rhythmic structures, swampy bass lines, and fragments of radio and voice
samples. The piece extends his exploration of how art can mirror the flow of inner-city traffic; drifting without a clear climax. Solid Rock echoes this idea, first conceived as a variation on Amp where particles repeat themselves. The result is distinct yet conceptually linked, evoking the
density of a crowded neighboring city: beginning in apparent disarray before locking into an abstract, hypnotic funk.
Series 33 begins with the convergence of Jonquera’s looping experiments and Tolouse Low Trax’s mechanical psychedelia, a dialogue between Lyon and Düsseldorf.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
A1. Jonquera – Cause & Utility
A2. Jonquera – Tales Of Decay
B1. Tolouse Low Trax – Amp
B2. Tolouse Low Trax – Solid Rock
Info:
Avenue 66 opens Series 33 with a Düsseldorf–Lyon connection.
Jonquera first encountered Tolouse Low Trax a decade ago in a small Lyon club. That night, his hypnotic slow-motion set was cut short, yet it left a lasting imprint. The Düsseldorf artist’s mechanical psychedelia, and the influence of the Salon collective have been a constant touchstone for
Jonquera, even inspiring playful “Düsselcore” edits in his Tera Octe days.
After several LPs, Jonquera returns to the EP format with Cause & Utility / Tales of Decay. Built from improvised drum, bass, and vocal recordings, the tracks are reworked through heavy looping and acoustic treatment, a method inspired by his recent live shows. Cause & Utility revolves around the
abstract idea of two dogs as concepts, enriched by the earthy drone of a hurdy-gurdy. Tales of Decay paints a surreal image of a house losing its rooms like a body shedding parts.
The MPC sorcerer Tolouse Low Trax, aka Detlef Weinrich, brings his Düsseldorf circuitry and autobahn funk with two tracks of pure rhythm apparition. Amp is a quintessential Tolouse Low Trax cut, built on concealed rhythmic structures, swampy bass lines, and fragments of radio and voice
samples. The piece extends his exploration of how art can mirror the flow of inner-city traffic; drifting without a clear climax. Solid Rock echoes this idea, first conceived as a variation on Amp where particles repeat themselves. The result is distinct yet conceptually linked, evoking the
density of a crowded neighboring city: beginning in apparent disarray before locking into an abstract, hypnotic funk.
Series 33 begins with the convergence of Jonquera’s looping experiments and Tolouse Low Trax’s mechanical psychedelia, a dialogue between Lyon and Düsseldorf.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Label:Studio Barnhus
Cat-No:BARN122
Release-Date:10.10.2025
Genre:House / Techno
Configuration:12" Excl
Barcode:198704597299
in stock
Last in:29.09.2025
+ Show full info- Close
in stock
Last in:29.09.2025
Label:Studio Barnhus
Cat-No:BARN122
Release-Date:10.10.2025
Genre:House / Techno
Configuration:12" Excl
Barcode:198704597299
1
Jo Bubbles - Can You Dream
2
Jo Bubbles - Compass Point
3
Jo Bubbles - Floating In The Dancehall
4
Jo Bubbles - Tu Cariño
GENRE/S: Techouse
TRACKLIST:
[Vinyl]
A1. Can You Dream
A2. Compass Point
B1. Floating In The Dancehall
B2. Tu Cariño
SHORT INFO:
Swedish underground maestro Jo Bubbles (a.k.a. Jonas Dahlström) boasts an impressive streak of hot dance 12’’ releases in recent years, for illustrous labels like Parkway Records, The Transient Nature of The Disco Business and Västkransen. Ever intent on lifting homegrown talent and presenting it to its
worldwide audience, Studio Barnhus proudly unveils Mr. Bubble’s first outing on the label: a compilation of four distinct, yet equally striking dance tracks, each showcasing meticulously curated sound palettes paired with undeniably rock solid grooves.
From the electroid stomp of Compass Point to the Balearic-leaning grandeur of closing track Tu Cariño, these are cuts that would have gone down a storm during the early morning hours at Hägring, the infamous, now-defunct disco rave Jonas helped steer for over a decade. We’re thrilled to release these babies into the wild, for all to enjoy. Tu Cariño is out on vinyl and digital formats on October 10.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
TRACKLIST:
[Vinyl]
A1. Can You Dream
A2. Compass Point
B1. Floating In The Dancehall
B2. Tu Cariño
SHORT INFO:
Swedish underground maestro Jo Bubbles (a.k.a. Jonas Dahlström) boasts an impressive streak of hot dance 12’’ releases in recent years, for illustrous labels like Parkway Records, The Transient Nature of The Disco Business and Västkransen. Ever intent on lifting homegrown talent and presenting it to its
worldwide audience, Studio Barnhus proudly unveils Mr. Bubble’s first outing on the label: a compilation of four distinct, yet equally striking dance tracks, each showcasing meticulously curated sound palettes paired with undeniably rock solid grooves.
From the electroid stomp of Compass Point to the Balearic-leaning grandeur of closing track Tu Cariño, these are cuts that would have gone down a storm during the early morning hours at Hägring, the infamous, now-defunct disco rave Jonas helped steer for over a decade. We’re thrilled to release these babies into the wild, for all to enjoy. Tu Cariño is out on vinyl and digital formats on October 10.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
2LP Excl
in stock
Label:Material Music
Cat-No:MATMU2LPW
Release-Date:14.11.2025
Genre:House
Configuration:2LP Excl
Barcode:5053760139614
in stock
Last in:05.11.2025
+ Show full info- Close
in stock
Last in:05.11.2025
Label:Material Music
Cat-No:MATMU2LPW
Release-Date:14.11.2025
Genre:House
Configuration:2LP Excl
Barcode:5053760139614
1
System Olympia - A1. System Olympia - The Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN) [3:44]
2
System Olympia - A2. Flavia Fortunato - Se Tu Vuoi [3:38]
3
System Olympia - A3. See Thru Hands - Hot City [3:57]
4
System Olympia - A4. Daniele Baldelli, Francesca Amati - Inner Light [4:43]
5
System Olympia - A5. Ruins - Sexual Desire [3:14]
6
System Olympia - B1. Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Eli's Mix) [5:13]
7
System Olympia - B2. musclecars - Running Out Of Time [5:10]
8
System Olympia - B3. Working Men's Club - Ploys (System Olympia Edit) [4:56]
9
System Olympia - B4. Royalty - Heart Strings [5:05]
10
System Olympia - C1. Dirty Art Club - Daysleeper [3:45]
11
System Olympia - C2. Admiral - Soho Girl [4:14]
12
System Olympia - C3. Tom Sharkett & Raf Rundell - Where's It All Go? [3:41]
13
System Olympia - C4. Gina Calabrese - Nobody Lives Forever [4:40]
14
System Olympia - D1. Romolo Grano, Gianni Oddi & Edda Dell'Orso - Kilimangiaro [3:55]
15
System Olympia - D2. LNDFK - Hana-bi [1:55]
16
System Olympia - D3. Fitness Forever - Vederti Distante [2:47]
17
System Olympia - D4. Piero Umiliani - Chaser [1:28]
18
System Olympia - D5. Stefano Torossi - Feeling Tense [4:10]
Territories: GSA only
‘White linen’ heavyweight vinyl 2LP. Includes 24-page fanzine. Indies exclusive.
Various Artists – curated by System Olympia "Love Language"
OVERVIEW:
System Olympia presents a bold, cinematic compilation that redefines the sound of sensuality. Love Language is an
18-track double-vinyl release pressed on heavyweight white linen colour vinyl.
It’s accompanied by a provocative, limited-edition 24-page fanzine, exclusive to 18+ audiences.
This is not just a compilation, Love Language is a manifesto. A carefully curated sonic journey through eroticism, artistic rebellion,
and liberation, it spans nearly five decades of music and features exclusive edits and rare gems that illuminate System Olympia’s
radical aesthetic vision.
****
Since her emergence on the electronic underground, System Olympia has carved out a distinct, sensual sonic universe, equal parts
vulnerable and defiant. With Love Language, she presents her most audacious project to date: a compilation rooted in what she
calls The Aesthetics of Sexual Desire in Sound.
It’s a daring declaration that desire is more than a feeling - it’s a language. Across 20 tracks, including her own sultry opener “The
Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN)” and a rare System Olympia edit of Working Men’s Club’s “Ploys”, this compilation speaks in
rhythms and textures that evoke longing, intimacy, and ecstatic release.
This is not a traditional compilation. System Olympia’s sequencing is cinematic and deliberate. Every track a scene in a film that exists
only in the listener’s imagination. From the retro-futurist seduction of Flavia Fortunato’s Italo gem “Se Tu Vuoi” to the deep, extended
tension of Musclecars’ “Running Out of Time,” each piece plays its part in an arc of anticipation, climax, and reflection.Uniting artists as diverse as Daniele Baldelli, Piero Umiliani, and DJ Rocca, Love Language refuses boundaries of genre, era, or
expectation. It dances between vintage Italo-disco, dreamy electronica, sweaty club tracks, and avant-garde jazz, forming a rich
tapestry of sound and sensation.
System Olympia explains, “This is music for lovers, outsiders, and dreamers. It's a rebellion made of velvet and
basslines.
The accompanying 24-page fanzine insert, restricted to adults, further deepens the narrative, with erotic visual fragments and
poetic texts that amplify the compilation’s raw, sensual energy. A tangible extension of the music’s spirit, the zine invites listeners to
step into Olympia’s world and engage their senses fully.
As much a provocation as it is a celebration, Love Language is a deeply personal curation and a radical act of creative freedom. It
champions eroticism as art, desire as dialogue, and music as a liberatory force.
VINYL
A1. System Olympia - The Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN) [3:44]
A2. Flavia Fortunato - Se Tu Vuoi [3:38]
A3. See Thru Hands - Hot City [3:57]
A4. Daniele Baldelli, Francesca Amati - Inner Light [4:43]
A5. Ruins - Sexual Desire [3:14]
B1. Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Eli's Mix) [5:13]
B2. musclecars - Running Out Of Time [5:10]
B3. Working Men's Club - Ploys (System Olympia Edit) [4:56]
B4. Royalty - Heart Strings [5:05]
C1. Dirty Art Club - Daysleeper [3:45]
C2. Admiral - Soho Girl [4:14]
C3. Tom Sharkett & Raf Rundell - Where's It All Go? [3:41]
C4. Gina Calabrese - Nobody Lives Forever [4:40]
D1. Romolo Grano, Gianni Oddi & Edda Dell'Orso - Kilimangiaro [3:55]
D2. LNDFK - Hana-bi [1:55]
D3. Fitness Forever - Vederti Distante [2:47]
D4. Piero Umiliani - Chaser [1:28]
D5. Stefano Torossi - Feeling Tense [4:10]
Exclusive tracks:
System Olympia - The Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN)
Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Eli's Mix)
Working Men's Club - Ploys (System Olympia Edit)
DJ Rocca - Basik Drinc 24
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
‘White linen’ heavyweight vinyl 2LP. Includes 24-page fanzine. Indies exclusive.
Various Artists – curated by System Olympia "Love Language"
OVERVIEW:
System Olympia presents a bold, cinematic compilation that redefines the sound of sensuality. Love Language is an
18-track double-vinyl release pressed on heavyweight white linen colour vinyl.
It’s accompanied by a provocative, limited-edition 24-page fanzine, exclusive to 18+ audiences.
This is not just a compilation, Love Language is a manifesto. A carefully curated sonic journey through eroticism, artistic rebellion,
and liberation, it spans nearly five decades of music and features exclusive edits and rare gems that illuminate System Olympia’s
radical aesthetic vision.
****
Since her emergence on the electronic underground, System Olympia has carved out a distinct, sensual sonic universe, equal parts
vulnerable and defiant. With Love Language, she presents her most audacious project to date: a compilation rooted in what she
calls The Aesthetics of Sexual Desire in Sound.
It’s a daring declaration that desire is more than a feeling - it’s a language. Across 20 tracks, including her own sultry opener “The
Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN)” and a rare System Olympia edit of Working Men’s Club’s “Ploys”, this compilation speaks in
rhythms and textures that evoke longing, intimacy, and ecstatic release.
This is not a traditional compilation. System Olympia’s sequencing is cinematic and deliberate. Every track a scene in a film that exists
only in the listener’s imagination. From the retro-futurist seduction of Flavia Fortunato’s Italo gem “Se Tu Vuoi” to the deep, extended
tension of Musclecars’ “Running Out of Time,” each piece plays its part in an arc of anticipation, climax, and reflection.Uniting artists as diverse as Daniele Baldelli, Piero Umiliani, and DJ Rocca, Love Language refuses boundaries of genre, era, or
expectation. It dances between vintage Italo-disco, dreamy electronica, sweaty club tracks, and avant-garde jazz, forming a rich
tapestry of sound and sensation.
System Olympia explains, “This is music for lovers, outsiders, and dreamers. It's a rebellion made of velvet and
basslines.
The accompanying 24-page fanzine insert, restricted to adults, further deepens the narrative, with erotic visual fragments and
poetic texts that amplify the compilation’s raw, sensual energy. A tangible extension of the music’s spirit, the zine invites listeners to
step into Olympia’s world and engage their senses fully.
As much a provocation as it is a celebration, Love Language is a deeply personal curation and a radical act of creative freedom. It
champions eroticism as art, desire as dialogue, and music as a liberatory force.
VINYL
A1. System Olympia - The Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN) [3:44]
A2. Flavia Fortunato - Se Tu Vuoi [3:38]
A3. See Thru Hands - Hot City [3:57]
A4. Daniele Baldelli, Francesca Amati - Inner Light [4:43]
A5. Ruins - Sexual Desire [3:14]
B1. Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Eli's Mix) [5:13]
B2. musclecars - Running Out Of Time [5:10]
B3. Working Men's Club - Ploys (System Olympia Edit) [4:56]
B4. Royalty - Heart Strings [5:05]
C1. Dirty Art Club - Daysleeper [3:45]
C2. Admiral - Soho Girl [4:14]
C3. Tom Sharkett & Raf Rundell - Where's It All Go? [3:41]
C4. Gina Calabrese - Nobody Lives Forever [4:40]
D1. Romolo Grano, Gianni Oddi & Edda Dell'Orso - Kilimangiaro [3:55]
D2. LNDFK - Hana-bi [1:55]
D3. Fitness Forever - Vederti Distante [2:47]
D4. Piero Umiliani - Chaser [1:28]
D5. Stefano Torossi - Feeling Tense [4:10]
Exclusive tracks:
System Olympia - The Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN)
Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Eli's Mix)
Working Men's Club - Ploys (System Olympia Edit)
DJ Rocca - Basik Drinc 24
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Label:Balearic Ensemble
Cat-No:BE020
Release-Date:07.03.2025
Genre:House
Configuration:12" Excl
Barcode:4251804182300
backorder
Last in:26.03.2025
+ Show full info- Close
backorder
Last in:26.03.2025
Label:Balearic Ensemble
Cat-No:BE020
Release-Date:07.03.2025
Genre:House
Configuration:12" Excl
Barcode:4251804182300
1
Eddie C / LJ Simon - U Be Mine (Eddie C Cash Version)
2
Eddie C / LJ Simon - U Be Mine (Lex (Athens) Plaka Remix)
3
Eddie C / LJ Simon - U Be Mine (Da Silva CLUB MIX)
4
Eddie C / LJ Simon - U Be Mine (ITALO DEVIANCE ACID CONTROL MIX)
Red Motorbike maestro Eddie C and Berlin's rising boogie-funk star LJ Simon drop on the ensemble with an anthemic ode to the most sought-after of desires. We’ve been keeping this secret for far too long; it’s time to bring U Be Mine into the light, complete with remixes from Lex, Da Silva and Marcello Giordani aka Italo Deviance.
It was just over a year ago when Eddie sent us the original demo of U Be Mine. I remember plugging in the speakers in my flat, pressing play. A flash from a place of love that wet, grey day. The lyrical bass, euphoric stabs, the iconic delay, the pining vox. There are times where things seem naturally bound, designed to intertwine. An instant essential. We couldn’t wait to throw it down in the disco. Much like the coveted desire of its vocoder-clad protagonist, we needed a club-ready fx. Eddie, getting the message, sent us over a quick master - the Eddie C ‘Cash’ Version. Over the next year, at parties from Lisbon to Ibiza, I saw how those swirling arps locked onto the floor, how dancers cozied up to its decadent groove. It was peak time, warm-up and wind-down all at once. In the true spirit of the ensemble, we got to work curating a cast of balearic technicians to write their distinct shade of depth onto Eddie and Simon's golden letter. And that’s where it lands.
Lex from Athens casts an exotic, eclectic spirit with his Plaka Remix, all shuffling percussions and wild, breezy strings, rejigged baselines and NYC disco tackle. Label curator Da Silva ups the ante with his 7-minute club-ready fx: tight kicks and searing acid, all the bells and whistles for your peak-time excursions. Finally, Marcello Giordani shifts into hyperdrive with the ITALO DEVIANCE ACID CONTROL version, conjuring creatures of the night in kaleidoscopic configurations, a trusted party roller for the most decadent dance floors.
We’re releasing U Be Mine on 150 pristine discs only. Claim it as yours, forevermore.
A1) U Be Mine (Eddie C Cash Version)
A2) U Be Mine (Lex (Athens) Plaka Remix)
B1) U Be Mine (Da Silva Club Mix)
B2) U Be Mine (ITALO DEVIANCE ACID CONTROL MIX)
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
It was just over a year ago when Eddie sent us the original demo of U Be Mine. I remember plugging in the speakers in my flat, pressing play. A flash from a place of love that wet, grey day. The lyrical bass, euphoric stabs, the iconic delay, the pining vox. There are times where things seem naturally bound, designed to intertwine. An instant essential. We couldn’t wait to throw it down in the disco. Much like the coveted desire of its vocoder-clad protagonist, we needed a club-ready fx. Eddie, getting the message, sent us over a quick master - the Eddie C ‘Cash’ Version. Over the next year, at parties from Lisbon to Ibiza, I saw how those swirling arps locked onto the floor, how dancers cozied up to its decadent groove. It was peak time, warm-up and wind-down all at once. In the true spirit of the ensemble, we got to work curating a cast of balearic technicians to write their distinct shade of depth onto Eddie and Simon's golden letter. And that’s where it lands.
Lex from Athens casts an exotic, eclectic spirit with his Plaka Remix, all shuffling percussions and wild, breezy strings, rejigged baselines and NYC disco tackle. Label curator Da Silva ups the ante with his 7-minute club-ready fx: tight kicks and searing acid, all the bells and whistles for your peak-time excursions. Finally, Marcello Giordani shifts into hyperdrive with the ITALO DEVIANCE ACID CONTROL version, conjuring creatures of the night in kaleidoscopic configurations, a trusted party roller for the most decadent dance floors.
We’re releasing U Be Mine on 150 pristine discs only. Claim it as yours, forevermore.
A1) U Be Mine (Eddie C Cash Version)
A2) U Be Mine (Lex (Athens) Plaka Remix)
B1) U Be Mine (Da Silva Club Mix)
B2) U Be Mine (ITALO DEVIANCE ACID CONTROL MIX)
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Label:Smallville Records
Cat-No:smallville66
Release-Date:08.11.2024
Genre:Deephouse
Configuration:12" Excl
Barcode:4251804180078
backorder
Last in:04.11.2024
+ Show full info- Close
backorder
Last in:04.11.2024
Label:Smallville Records
Cat-No:smallville66
Release-Date:08.11.2024
Genre:Deephouse
Configuration:12" Excl
Barcode:4251804180078
1
Lis Sarroca - Atacote
2
Lis Sarroca - Breaks Reminder
3
Lis Sarroca - Early Years
4
Lis Sarroca - Might Be
Artwork and Typography by Stefan Marx
Smallville Records welcomes Barcelona’s Lis Sarroca onto the imprint this November with her four-track ‘Untitled Thoughts’ EP.
Since 2018, Barcelona, Spain’s Lis Sarroca has been steadily unveiling her take on House, Techno, Disco and Electro via the likes of Shall Not Fade, Hot Haus and Chiwax among others as well maintain a steady presence across the globe as a heavily in demand DJ. Here, we see Sarocca making her debut on Smallville with her latest collection of works, again showcasing her widespread influences and mesmerising sonic aesthetic across four cuts.
Up first is ‘Atacote’, a hypnotic house cut with a Balearic feel courtesy of breathy vocals, cinematic strings, piano lines and hazy atmospherics, intertwined with organic percussion and bouncy sub bass tones. ‘Breaks Reminder’ follows and shifts gear into a broken rhythm section, squelchy acid lines and textural synths throughout.
Opening the flip-side is ‘Early Years’, diving back into deeper realms with a multitude of ethereal pads, dubby synth flutters, plucked bass hits and crisp drums. ‘Might Be’ then concludes the EP on a more chuggy Nu-Disco tip, employing gritty bass stabs, bubbling arpeggios, airy flute melodies and a saturated off-kilter drum groove.
Comes with a Full Cover Artwork by Stefan Marx
Tracklist:
A1 Atacote
A2 Breaks Reminder
B1 Early Years
B2 Might Be
All tracks written & produced by Lis Sarroca
Mastering and Vinyl cut by Helmut Erler at Lathesville
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Smallville Records welcomes Barcelona’s Lis Sarroca onto the imprint this November with her four-track ‘Untitled Thoughts’ EP.
Since 2018, Barcelona, Spain’s Lis Sarroca has been steadily unveiling her take on House, Techno, Disco and Electro via the likes of Shall Not Fade, Hot Haus and Chiwax among others as well maintain a steady presence across the globe as a heavily in demand DJ. Here, we see Sarocca making her debut on Smallville with her latest collection of works, again showcasing her widespread influences and mesmerising sonic aesthetic across four cuts.
Up first is ‘Atacote’, a hypnotic house cut with a Balearic feel courtesy of breathy vocals, cinematic strings, piano lines and hazy atmospherics, intertwined with organic percussion and bouncy sub bass tones. ‘Breaks Reminder’ follows and shifts gear into a broken rhythm section, squelchy acid lines and textural synths throughout.
Opening the flip-side is ‘Early Years’, diving back into deeper realms with a multitude of ethereal pads, dubby synth flutters, plucked bass hits and crisp drums. ‘Might Be’ then concludes the EP on a more chuggy Nu-Disco tip, employing gritty bass stabs, bubbling arpeggios, airy flute melodies and a saturated off-kilter drum groove.
Comes with a Full Cover Artwork by Stefan Marx
Tracklist:
A1 Atacote
A2 Breaks Reminder
B1 Early Years
B2 Might Be
All tracks written & produced by Lis Sarroca
Mastering and Vinyl cut by Helmut Erler at Lathesville
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
12"
backorder
+ Show full info- Close
backorder
Last in:05.05.2026
Label:Rebirth
Cat-No:REB131BONUS1
Release-Date:07.11.2025
Genre:House
Configuration:12"
Barcode:
1
Deep Joy - Fall (Andrew Weatherall Let There Be Drums Mix)
2
Thrashing Doves - Je$u$ on the Payroll (Unreleased Instrumental Version)
3
Kc Flightt - Let’s Get Jazzy (Dope Dub Mix)
4
The Metaluna Mutant - Blinky Blue Eyed Sunrise (Original Mix)
Following on from the super-fast stock sell-outs of the 2LP of joyous Alfredo selections, Rebirth follow up with the first of the sample EPs of rare, cherished and formerly unreleased gems. Deep Joy of Brainiak (and Mo Wax) fame had their stunning “Fall” track remixed by lord Sabre, Andrew Weatherall himself; an often-missed indie-chug delight from the early 90’s. The Thrashing Doves and their scene stamping classic Je$u$ on the Payroll, needs very little introduction, but this Unreleased Instrumental Version, like it states, has never been on vinyl before. Flip over for another hip hop/club hybrid of a track with KC Flightt’s “Lets get Jazzy”, and its iconic sound which was remixed by the legendary Blaze; then finishing up with sunrise/sunset jamm, “Blinky Blue Eyed Sunrise”, by The Metaluna Mutant. A must for any lover of the white isle and it’s heritage.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Label:Life and Death
Cat-No:LAD092
Release-Date:19.09.2025
Genre:House / Techno
Configuration:12" Excl
Barcode:4251804187381
backorder
Last in:02.09.2025
+ Show full info- Close
backorder
Last in:02.09.2025
Label:Life and Death
Cat-No:LAD092
Release-Date:19.09.2025
Genre:House / Techno
Configuration:12" Excl
Barcode:4251804187381
1
Andre Zimmer - Hypnotizing
2
Andre Zimmer - That’s Right
3
Andre Zimmer - Kwon’s Anthem
4
Andre Zimmer - Hours
Tracklist:
A1 - Hypnotizing
A2 - That’s Right
B1 - Kwon’s Anthem
B2 - Hours
Toronto/Berlin producer and Big Trouble Records founder Andre Zimmer has emerged as one of house and techno’s hottest commodities, fresh off his scorching fabric Records release with Carlita. Now he joins DJ Tennis’s Life and Death label with the announcement of his 4-track Kwon Anthem EP, out September 19.
Arriving alongside the announcement is the lead single “Hypnotizing” — a piano-driven, ethereal cut that highlights Zimmer’s ability to channel rave nostalgia into shimmering, emotive house designed for peak dance floor moments.
The EP also features the standout track “That’s Right”, which has already been making waves across clubs worldwide. With early support from Peggy Gou, Jennifer Loveless, Massimilliano Pagliara, Alinka, Jorkes, Luigi Di Venere, and more — including rotations at Panorama Bar and viral fan videos from Bella and beyond — it’s quickly becoming one of Zimmer’s most in-demand productions.
Across Kwon Anthem EP, Zimmer balances hypnotic, orchestral breakdowns, progressive trance textures built from Roland SRX patches (“Kwon’s Anthem”), and a cosmic, downtempo detour structured around a 707 jam (“Hours”). It’s his most ambitious and wide-ranging statement yet — and a fitting debut on Life and Death.
With support from underground tastemakers and appearances at clubs and parties worldwide, Zimmer’s DJ sets reaffirm a classic but forward-thinking approach to house music.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
A1 - Hypnotizing
A2 - That’s Right
B1 - Kwon’s Anthem
B2 - Hours
Toronto/Berlin producer and Big Trouble Records founder Andre Zimmer has emerged as one of house and techno’s hottest commodities, fresh off his scorching fabric Records release with Carlita. Now he joins DJ Tennis’s Life and Death label with the announcement of his 4-track Kwon Anthem EP, out September 19.
Arriving alongside the announcement is the lead single “Hypnotizing” — a piano-driven, ethereal cut that highlights Zimmer’s ability to channel rave nostalgia into shimmering, emotive house designed for peak dance floor moments.
The EP also features the standout track “That’s Right”, which has already been making waves across clubs worldwide. With early support from Peggy Gou, Jennifer Loveless, Massimilliano Pagliara, Alinka, Jorkes, Luigi Di Venere, and more — including rotations at Panorama Bar and viral fan videos from Bella and beyond — it’s quickly becoming one of Zimmer’s most in-demand productions.
Across Kwon Anthem EP, Zimmer balances hypnotic, orchestral breakdowns, progressive trance textures built from Roland SRX patches (“Kwon’s Anthem”), and a cosmic, downtempo detour structured around a 707 jam (“Hours”). It’s his most ambitious and wide-ranging statement yet — and a fitting debut on Life and Death.
With support from underground tastemakers and appearances at clubs and parties worldwide, Zimmer’s DJ sets reaffirm a classic but forward-thinking approach to house music.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
+ Show full info- Close
backorder
Last in:13.03.2026
Label:Safe Trip
Cat-No:ST026
Release-Date:24.10.2025
Genre:techhouse
Configuration:12"
Barcode:
1
Masalo - Arcade Heartbeat
Masalo – Arcade Heartbeat
Safe Trip – ST026
Single sided 12"
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Safe Trip – ST026
Single sided 12"
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
7" Excl
in stock
Label:Bite The Day
Cat-No:BTD003
Release-Date:17.10.2025
Genre:House
Configuration:7" Excl
Barcode:4251804187787
in stock
Last in:10.10.2025
+ Show full info- Close
in stock
Last in:10.10.2025
Label:Bite The Day
Cat-No:BTD003
Release-Date:17.10.2025
Genre:House
Configuration:7" Excl
Barcode:4251804187787
1
Idjut Boys & Minjung Kate Kim - Word Salad Version
2
Idjut Boys & Minjung Kate Kim - Conical Squares Version
Tracklist
A1. WTF – Word Salad Version
B1. WTF – Conical Squares Version
Info:
Further Adventures of the WTF Band ... because three letters are cheaper than
therapy. The Idjuts and Minjung Kate Kim continue their campaign to replace BPM
with LOL.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
A1. WTF – Word Salad Version
B1. WTF – Conical Squares Version
Info:
Further Adventures of the WTF Band ... because three letters are cheaper than
therapy. The Idjuts and Minjung Kate Kim continue their campaign to replace BPM
with LOL.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
12" Excl
backorder
Label:Ural 13 Records
Cat-No:U13001
Release-Date:05.09.2025
Genre:Electro
Configuration:12" Excl
Barcode:6430080579013
backorder
Last in:30.04.2026
+ Show full info- Close
backorder
Last in:30.04.2026
Label:Ural 13 Records
Cat-No:U13001
Release-Date:05.09.2025
Genre:Electro
Configuration:12" Excl
Barcode:6430080579013
1
Ural 13 Diktators - Diskossa
2
Ural 13 Diktators - Paraati
3
Ural 13 Diktators - 1985
4
Ural 13 Diktators - Manifesti
5
Ural 13 Diktators - Uralin Pihlaja
Long-overdue repress of the 1998 classic Ural 13 Diktators debut release. From Ghetto Techno to Hi-NRG influenced Neo-Soviet Electroclash and traditional melodies. Mastered from the original tapes and lacquer cut in 2025 by Mike Grinser at Manmade Mastering, Berlin. Slava Ukraini!
A1: Diskossa
A2: Paraati
B1: 1985
B2: Manifesti
B3: Uralin Pihlaja
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
A1: Diskossa
A2: Paraati
B1: 1985
B2: Manifesti
B3: Uralin Pihlaja
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
LP Excl
in stock
Cat-No:MMDS24003LP
Release-Date:06.09.2024
Genre:Techno
Configuration:LP Excl
Barcode:4582116562895
in stock
Last in:09.07.2024
+ Show full info- Close
in stock
Last in:09.07.2024
Cat-No:MMDS24003LP
Release-Date:06.09.2024
Genre:Techno
Configuration:LP Excl
Barcode:4582116562895
1
Ken Ishii - A1. Into The Inside (2024 Remaster)
2
Ken Ishii - A2. Fading Sky (2024 Remaster)
3
Ken Ishii - A3. Non Essential (2024 Remaster)
4
Ken Ishii - B1. Finite Time (2024 Remaster)
5
Ken Ishii - B2. Interjection (2024 Remaster)
6
Ken Ishii - B3. Scene One (2024 Remaster)
LP 180g Heavyweight vinyl, Remastered, with original track-list available on vinyl for the first time
"Ken Ishii has risen to be one of techno's biggest names" Bandcamp Daily
"A pivotal moment in the history of techno, ambient and electronic music from Japan. An important milestone in a journey to explore the endless possibilities of music and a precious result of our passion and adventure at the time" Manabu Yamazaki (Sublime Records)
GENRE: Techno, Ambient
Tracklist:
1. Into The Inside (2024 Remaster)
2. Fading Sky (2024 Remaster)
3. Non Essential (2024 Remaster)
Side B
1. Finite Time (2024 Remaster)
2. Interjection (2024 Remaster)
3. Scene One (2024 Remaster)
New liner notes by Martyn Pepperell
The musician and DJ Ken Ishii sits right at the pinnacle of techno's most noteworthy, but although a game changer for the artist personally - and for Japanese electronic music in general - his 1994 album 'Reference to Difference' is something of an unsung gem today.
Now reissued and remastered, released to mark the 30th anniversary of Musicmine / Sublime Records, and available on vinyl with its original track-list for the first time, this stunning, lesser-known classic is ripe for rediscovery.
Born 1970 in Sapporo, Ishii was introduced to electronic music at a young age through arcade games, and Japanese and German pioneers like Yellow Magic Orchestra, Isao Tomita and Kraftwerk. During his teens, he absorbed new wave, synth-pop, EBM and industrial, before making a life-changing discovery of Detroit techno in the late 80s.
As the 1990s dawned, so did his introduction to Black Dog Productions and Warp Records' Artificial Intelligence compilations. Blown away by the emerging British and American IDM, braindance, and ambient techno movements, he quickly folded their influence into his still-developing but cultivated aesthetic.
A futuristic confluence of unplaceable ambient atmospheres, space age techno, IDM and minimalist composition, 'Reference To Difference' unfolds as an effortless series of exercises in pristine synth textures, robust man/machine rhythm and understated melodies. It teleports the listener back to a golden moment in the mid-1990s, when a dedicated generation rose out of Tokyo's storied clubs and took the innovation, energy, and creativity of Japan's unique techno culture to the world.
Opened in 1993, Maniac Love was a new nightclub where Manabu Yamazaki aka DJ Yama promoted the Sublime parties, which soon became a crucial hub within the burgeoning Tokyo underground. It was here where Yamazaki rubbed shoulders with peers including Ishii and Susumu Yokota, and the trio's future became intertwined.
Much like Ishii, the late Susumu Yokota began his musical career by reaching out to Europe. Not long before Ishii released his debut longplayer 'Garden On The Palm' through Belgium's R&S, Yokota released his debut LP 'The Frankfurt-Tokyo Connection' through Harthouse, the German label co-founded by Sven Väth. In the wake of both records' overseas success, Ishii and Yokota set a benchmark for techno in Japan.
By 1993, as they both became in-demand producers and DJs, it felt like their dreams were coming true. Through talking with Ishii and Yokota, Yamazaki became emboldened to transform Sublime into a record label.
Soon after, Yamazaki partnered with Hideoki Amano, who was on the verge of founding Musicmine, a now respected and longstanding independent Japanese music company. As Yamazaki tells it, Amano helped him turn his dream into a reality: Sublime Records.
For Musicmine and Sublime Records' inaugural album releases, Yamazaki and Amano approached both Ishii and Yokota, resulting in the simultaneous drop of 'Reference To Difference' and 'Acid Mt. Fuji' respectively, on June 29th 1994.
Yamazaki remembered 'Reference To Difference' being well received by DJs, listeners, record store buyers and journalists, stating "people were excited by this new wave of music coming out of Japan, and had high praise for its unique sound."
With the pair of LPs further stamping Japan on the contemporary musical globe, the scene was beginning to boom at home too. Specialist record stores, and club music magazines like Ele-King and Loud spread the word, and in the wake of Maniac Love's impact, new nightclubs like the legendary Liquid Room were opening up, bringing a steady stream of world-famous DJs to the Japanese capital.
"Without a doubt, I think the arrival of Ken Ishii was a major turning point for the Japanese music industry in the 1990s," Amano reflected. "Nowadays, the Western club music scene is rediscovering Japanese techno from the 1990s, and digging our music is a common sight, but before Ken Ishii, no Japanese DJ was in sync with the global club music scene. He was the catalyst."
"Looking back, I can tell it was meaningful that this was one of the first techno albums by a Japanese artist that was released on a Japanese label," Ishii reflects. "Maybe I did something that bridged between old school Japanese electronic music and 'new school' techno in line with the Detroit sound with this record" he adds, in modest understatement.
The new liner notes were written Martyn Pepperell, a well-regarded music journalist who has covered Susumu Yokota for Wax Poetics and Midori Takada for Dazed, amongst numerous other articles.
Ken Ishi DJ dates:
Fri 14 June Tokyo, Japan : MUSICMINE 30th Anniversary @ WWW
Sat 15 June Nagano Pref, Japan : Re:birth Festival 2024 @ Kurumayama-Kogen Skypark Resort
Sat 22 June Tbilisi, Georgia : Tbilisi Open Air (Khidi Stage) @ Lisi Wonderland
Fri 12 July Tokyo, Japan : TECHNOH LAB. @ Suigian (*Non+techno performance with Manjiro Tatsumi)
Fri 12 July Tokyo, Japan : @ Vent
Fri 26 July Tokyo, Japan : @ Shinjuku Loft
Sun 28 July Naeba, Japan : @ Fuji Rock Festival
Sat 31 August Amsterdam, The Netherlands : Wooferland 2024 @ Houtrak Halfweg
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
"Ken Ishii has risen to be one of techno's biggest names" Bandcamp Daily
"A pivotal moment in the history of techno, ambient and electronic music from Japan. An important milestone in a journey to explore the endless possibilities of music and a precious result of our passion and adventure at the time" Manabu Yamazaki (Sublime Records)
GENRE: Techno, Ambient
Tracklist:
1. Into The Inside (2024 Remaster)
2. Fading Sky (2024 Remaster)
3. Non Essential (2024 Remaster)
Side B
1. Finite Time (2024 Remaster)
2. Interjection (2024 Remaster)
3. Scene One (2024 Remaster)
New liner notes by Martyn Pepperell
The musician and DJ Ken Ishii sits right at the pinnacle of techno's most noteworthy, but although a game changer for the artist personally - and for Japanese electronic music in general - his 1994 album 'Reference to Difference' is something of an unsung gem today.
Now reissued and remastered, released to mark the 30th anniversary of Musicmine / Sublime Records, and available on vinyl with its original track-list for the first time, this stunning, lesser-known classic is ripe for rediscovery.
Born 1970 in Sapporo, Ishii was introduced to electronic music at a young age through arcade games, and Japanese and German pioneers like Yellow Magic Orchestra, Isao Tomita and Kraftwerk. During his teens, he absorbed new wave, synth-pop, EBM and industrial, before making a life-changing discovery of Detroit techno in the late 80s.
As the 1990s dawned, so did his introduction to Black Dog Productions and Warp Records' Artificial Intelligence compilations. Blown away by the emerging British and American IDM, braindance, and ambient techno movements, he quickly folded their influence into his still-developing but cultivated aesthetic.
A futuristic confluence of unplaceable ambient atmospheres, space age techno, IDM and minimalist composition, 'Reference To Difference' unfolds as an effortless series of exercises in pristine synth textures, robust man/machine rhythm and understated melodies. It teleports the listener back to a golden moment in the mid-1990s, when a dedicated generation rose out of Tokyo's storied clubs and took the innovation, energy, and creativity of Japan's unique techno culture to the world.
Opened in 1993, Maniac Love was a new nightclub where Manabu Yamazaki aka DJ Yama promoted the Sublime parties, which soon became a crucial hub within the burgeoning Tokyo underground. It was here where Yamazaki rubbed shoulders with peers including Ishii and Susumu Yokota, and the trio's future became intertwined.
Much like Ishii, the late Susumu Yokota began his musical career by reaching out to Europe. Not long before Ishii released his debut longplayer 'Garden On The Palm' through Belgium's R&S, Yokota released his debut LP 'The Frankfurt-Tokyo Connection' through Harthouse, the German label co-founded by Sven Väth. In the wake of both records' overseas success, Ishii and Yokota set a benchmark for techno in Japan.
By 1993, as they both became in-demand producers and DJs, it felt like their dreams were coming true. Through talking with Ishii and Yokota, Yamazaki became emboldened to transform Sublime into a record label.
Soon after, Yamazaki partnered with Hideoki Amano, who was on the verge of founding Musicmine, a now respected and longstanding independent Japanese music company. As Yamazaki tells it, Amano helped him turn his dream into a reality: Sublime Records.
For Musicmine and Sublime Records' inaugural album releases, Yamazaki and Amano approached both Ishii and Yokota, resulting in the simultaneous drop of 'Reference To Difference' and 'Acid Mt. Fuji' respectively, on June 29th 1994.
Yamazaki remembered 'Reference To Difference' being well received by DJs, listeners, record store buyers and journalists, stating "people were excited by this new wave of music coming out of Japan, and had high praise for its unique sound."
With the pair of LPs further stamping Japan on the contemporary musical globe, the scene was beginning to boom at home too. Specialist record stores, and club music magazines like Ele-King and Loud spread the word, and in the wake of Maniac Love's impact, new nightclubs like the legendary Liquid Room were opening up, bringing a steady stream of world-famous DJs to the Japanese capital.
"Without a doubt, I think the arrival of Ken Ishii was a major turning point for the Japanese music industry in the 1990s," Amano reflected. "Nowadays, the Western club music scene is rediscovering Japanese techno from the 1990s, and digging our music is a common sight, but before Ken Ishii, no Japanese DJ was in sync with the global club music scene. He was the catalyst."
"Looking back, I can tell it was meaningful that this was one of the first techno albums by a Japanese artist that was released on a Japanese label," Ishii reflects. "Maybe I did something that bridged between old school Japanese electronic music and 'new school' techno in line with the Detroit sound with this record" he adds, in modest understatement.
The new liner notes were written Martyn Pepperell, a well-regarded music journalist who has covered Susumu Yokota for Wax Poetics and Midori Takada for Dazed, amongst numerous other articles.
Ken Ishi DJ dates:
Fri 14 June Tokyo, Japan : MUSICMINE 30th Anniversary @ WWW
Sat 15 June Nagano Pref, Japan : Re:birth Festival 2024 @ Kurumayama-Kogen Skypark Resort
Sat 22 June Tbilisi, Georgia : Tbilisi Open Air (Khidi Stage) @ Lisi Wonderland
Fri 12 July Tokyo, Japan : TECHNOH LAB. @ Suigian (*Non+techno performance with Manjiro Tatsumi)
Fri 12 July Tokyo, Japan : @ Vent
Fri 26 July Tokyo, Japan : @ Shinjuku Loft
Sun 28 July Naeba, Japan : @ Fuji Rock Festival
Sat 31 August Amsterdam, The Netherlands : Wooferland 2024 @ Houtrak Halfweg
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
