Repress!

Kindred labels Animalia and NAFF co-release a collaborative project by Priori and Cousin.

Seamlessly bridging the artists’ individually honed styles, Numina displays four carefully crafted, beautifully understated, ultra-deep tracks that oscillate between club workouts and bass meditations. Hi-def and tripped to the core, this is dub for complex organisms.

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Transparent Vinyl!

** 2LP gatefold sleeve with printed inners

An opening of the portal, Friend is the culmination of a decade of K’s work; the gates of which gleam like a slow drip of melodic infusion, at once a remedy and an inquiry. Friend encapsulates a lifelong praxis of intuitive music making, delivering a more precise and controlled sound, with versions of songs shifting into focus like recovered memories. Feeling her way through textures, a return to an intimacy and clarity of voice with a melding of refined technique, these soundscapes lay down a framework over time that traces the history of her practice.

james K has been a cosmic point of the aesthetic underground across the world, as a vocalist, producer, artist and collaborator. Her breathy, lilting vocals have floated across some of the past year’s best music. Expanding and ethereal, they make you feel like the call is coming from inside the house. You can trace touch points across her lengthy catalogue, spanning from the foundational urgency of 2013’s debut Rum EP, to the prismatic elasticity of PET (She Rocks!/Dial), to the strange-faced, visceral and, at times, sepulchral intoxication of Random Girl (Incienso), to the universal ecstasy of trip-hop lullaby ‘Scorpio’ (AD 93). To this day, her ??transmutative career has led K to amass a bouquet of collaborations with artists like Heith, Moin, Fergus Jones + Huerco S., Priori, Yves Tumor, Drew McDowall, LEYA, and others.

Friend is K’s return to the core; each song anchored by the past, present and future: all inherently connected, yet each compressing its own raw emotion, transmuting across a spectrum of fully realized manifestations. K holds a prism to the personal and reflects it outwards, illuminating her blues with a vibrant acceptance of love. Based in New York where she was born and has lived most of her life, there is a constant evolution of the city which she embodies sonically, like the growth, decay and push, pull of relationships and spaces. At the crux of these crossroads is the homespun and ever-evolving DIY rave culture which continues to embody and cycle through lives of its own. This ecology spans across geographical lines and remains the touchstone and core of the james K vocation: the backbone and infrastructure from which her distinctive command of interwoven guitar and electronic arrangements ultimately coalesces. Grafting fragments of the real and the surreal is the provenance she draws from in her thoughtful and emotive international performances including Dekmantel, Sustain Release, Mutek, iii Points, and more. Her international recognition has guided her to the stages of both her contemporaries and pioneers: some of these including James Ferraro, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, Morton Subotnick, Nick Leon, Arushi Jain, Malibu, and Priori, among others.

Friend was written and produced in studios between New York and Montreal; featuring collaborations with contemporaries and friends, Special Guest DJ, Francis Latrielle, Ben Bondy, Patrick Holland, Hank Jackson, and Adam Feingold. The new record is anchored by K’s penchant for melody at the forefront, which feature her ‘heavenly vocals. Her delivery glistens with the Elizabeth Fraser effect: carried foremost by feeling, the curvature of her indecipherable lyrics capture the fleeting moment in which euphoria sinks into quiet melancholy,’ and a dreamy flow-state of softly-textured, finitely detailed hi-fi production. K’s willingness to be vulnerable - to delve into/feel her way through rangelessness is her signature: exploring the contours of all genres, and laying the framework for new conversations between artists.)

Listen: https://s.disco.ac/mlslyxaszdiq

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It was the 90s. Paris had the blues, French rap was beginning its slow rise, and a new musical genre was emerging: Acid Jazz. Imported from England by DJ Gilles Peterson, this groovy style blended 70s funk with a certain idea of jazz tailored for the dancefloor. Its heroes were Galliano, Brand New Heavies, Incognito, and the James Taylor Quartet. Jamiroquai topped the charts, MC Solaar recorded with Urban Species, and suddenly, France was swept up in the swing whirlwind.

Starting in 1993, Parisian clubs embraced this union of jazz and groove, and in 1994, a compilation was released: Paris Groove Up. Around ten groups delivered the French version of this British style: Mellowman, Mad In Paris, Vercoquin, Ready Made... and Dis Bonjour À La Dame. The band wasn’t new—their roots went back to the late 80s, when bassist Marc Israël brought together a brass section and some seasoned musicians. But the real beginning of DBALD came in 1992 with the arrival of singer Sital. "Christophe Denis joined on guitar and songwriting. In 1993, we opened for Jamiroquai and Maceo Parker, and that’s when the major labels interested in the acid jazz market started noticing us," recalls Marc.

Their track Chris’tal, the centerpiece of the compilation, was released as a single, and Dis Bonjour À La Dame's album began production in late 1994 in London, at Roundhouse Studio. “We must’ve been among the last sessions there—it was demolished shortly after. It was a very 70s studio, with old gear, a Fender Rhodes, everything was vintage! We recorded for a month, all playing together live, then added the brass and finally Sital’s vocals. We were lucky to have two exceptional backing singers, Sarah Brown and Mark Anthoni, who worked with Incognito and Urban Species.”

The self-titled album came out in early 1995, and it had all the ingredients of a hidden funky gem from the 90s: Hey Mama with its ironclad groove, the irresistible instrumental Sheherazade Groove opening the record, Soul Body with its R\&B sensuality... The hip-hop touch came courtesy of Lee Rick’s, the MC from Mellowman, who laid down rhymes on Hall Blues. The brass section was on fire, the bass went wild, and Sital added a sensual spark to the whole thing.

In short, a solid album produced by Fred Versailles (producer of NTM’s first album) and mixed by Paul Borg (Urban Species, UFO, -M-, Mory Kanté), a testament to a time when big funky bands made Paris groove—with Dis Bonjour À La Dame leading the charge. Nearly thirty years later, it’s time to (re)discover DBALD.

Ladies & Gentlemen, good times are back again!
Olivier Cachin

A1 - Sheherazade Groove
A2 - This Funk
A3 - Hey Mama
A4 - Soul Body
A5 - Chris'tal
A6 - You Want To Know
B1 - Sa Ka Passe
B2 - Mama Had To Tell Me
B3 - Just Like Before
B4 - Hall Blues
B5 - Children Of War
B6 - Ta Me`re En Short Bleu

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Fracture & Neptune return to Astrophonica with their first collaborative 12” on the label since 2010.

Two epic, psychedelic, and deeply authentic tracks for both the floor and the head, carrying the unmistakable hallmarks of the duo’s classic sound — A psychedelic concoction of Jazz, Sci-Fi, Dub, and Breakbeat Choppage. Rooted in the lineage of Jungle and Drum & Bass, yet delivered in Fracture & Neptune’s unmistakably unique style.

To celebrate the release, UTILE — responsible for all Astrophonica design — have gone all out on the artwork, creating an iconic, type-based image for both tracks, presented on a full-colour, double-sided printed sleeve. Massive shout to UTILE for being as important to the label as the music.

“Erase Everything” is a journey through LA 2049 via London 1999 — as if Deckard were blasting an AWOL tape in his Spinner. Merging classic breaks and analogue saturation with soaring, cutting-edge pads and city-wide reverb, the result is both devastating and deeply thoughtful.

“Good Stuff” is inspired by a love of digging for samples across Jazz, Hip Hop, and Rock, and by a dedication to crafting kaleidoscopic soundscapes — All that good stuff, blended into one hallucinogenic trip.

Meeting at Islington Sixth Form College in 1996, Charlie (Fracture) and Nelson (Neptune) bonded over their deep love for the defining sound of London at the time — Jungle and Drum & Bass. Countless trips to Black Market Records in Soho, playing on pirate radio stations, and eventually, a makeshift bedroom studio — complete with an E-Mu ESI4000, a Mackie desk, and a few FX units — set the foundation for their journey. Their first release arrived in 2002 on Droppin’ Science, the label run by legendary Hardcore and Jungle pioneer — and fellow breakbeat manipulator — Danny Breaks. A run of mid-2000s releases on Ireland’s Bassbin, Paradox’s Outsider, and London’s Inperspective Records propelled Fracture & Neptune further into the cosmos. In 2009, they founded Astrophonica — initially as a home for their own music, but it quickly evolved into a hub for like-minded artists to experiment and explore freely. Almost 30 years on, they’re back in the studio with APHA034 — with more to come.

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LTD Crystal Clear Marbled Vinyl!

LLaurant Webb, Dave Coker, Justin Bailey and Dave Pine were the driving forces behind Strange Weather Studios. Based in Southeast London, the studio served as a creative hub, playing a pivotal role in shaping the sound of a groundbreaking genre. Alongside close friends and collaborators, they produced a series of influential records that have left an indelible mark on the music landscape.

This release is a heartfelt tribute to Strange Weather Studios and the talented individuals who brought its magic to life. It also honours the studio’s production partners though iconic projects such as Housey Doingz, 7th Voyage, Space Bunny, Get Fucked and Green Eyed Monster. These projects that were instrumental in forging the signature, original London Tech House sound.

The tracks on this record have been handpicked by Laurant Webb and Yossi Amoyal, meticulously restored and remastered from the rare original DATs.

This release marks a significant milestone for London Tech House, symbolising a collaboration between its key pioneers and a label that evolved alongside the genre. It’s an organic partnership that celebrates the past and looks towards the future. A project we’re incredibly proud to share with you.

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Tracklisting
A1 Coco Bryce - Noches Sephardies
A2 Coco Bryce - Azimio
A3 Coco Bryce - Mahoni
A4 Coco Bryce - I Know This Place
A5 Coco Bryce - Hazina
B1 Coco Bryce - Juego De Siempre
B2 Coco Bryce - Dese
B3 Coco Bryce - Tiris One
B4 Coco Bryce - Eschaton
B5 Coco Bryce - Azeri

Sales Note
Steering clear of his usual diet of 90s rave stabs, woolly pads and contemporary R&B vocals, Coco Bryce offers up a full album focussing on non-western sample sources. Drawing from, amongst other things, traditional Azerbaijani folk songs, Indonesian Gamelan experiments, Kenyan Taarab and ancient Sephardi hymns, it traverses half the globe across its ten tracks.

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Limited Pressing

For the first EP on his new label, Planet Strangelove, Job Jobse brings new life to an overlooked balearic house gem: "Pasion," an early '90s deep cut by the Leeds artist Pianoman, inspired by Tangerine Dream's "Love On A Real Train,” aka the most breathtaking synth arp of all time. Alex Kassian, whose sprawling take on Manuel Göttschings's "E2-E4" already showed his fine touch for the kosmische vibe Tangerine Dream embodied, delivers a "Dance Mix" and a "Dream Mix," one packing a club-ready beat, the other drifting weightlessly. London duo The Trip, of the label and party Tesselate, deliver a remix as breezy as it is thumping, all wailing divas, sunkissed pads and shimmering pianos. As for Pianoman's "Analysis" remix, it's a dazzling artifact of the balearic era at its peak, touched by the ineffable essence of its time but sounding just as fresh as its modern reinterpretations.

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Dutch producers Fouk make their debut on Freerange Records with a brilliant 4 tracker entitled
the Get It Done EP, showcasing their signature blend of groove, melody, and dancefloor
dynamism. Known for their impeccable craftsmanship and warm, funk-infused house productions,
Fouk have built a loyal following through releases on labels like Heist, Razor-N-Tape, and their
own Outplay imprint. Now, the duo step onto one of the most respected platforms in house
music with four expertly sculpted cuts that balance classic influences with modern flair.
The EP opens with the title track Get It Done, a muscular slice of euphoric Piano House that’s as
uplifting as it is infectious. Built around some familiar piano stabs and a driving groove, it sets the
tone with pure feel-good energy destined to light up basement dancefloors and festivals alike.
Next up is Floating, a high-energy club track propelled by serotonin-boosting Philly strings, simple
rolling bassline and MAW-esque shuffling snares. Fouk channel a rawer edge here, delivering a
tune that’s equal parts powerful and soulful – a perfect peak-time weapon.
On the flip, Neon Drift (Club Mix) takes things into more electronic territory, weaving synth-heavy
arpeggiating textures and Detroit chord stabs into a hypnotic, forward-looking journey. Despite its
exploratory sonic tendencies, the track keeps its eyes firmly on the dancefloor with Fouk’s
trademark groove holding it all together.
Closing out the release is Neon Drift (First Light Mix), a deeper, more introspective reimagining
of the Club Mix. With warm pads, subtle percussion, and a hazy afterhours feel, it provides a
perfect comedown moment – the sunrise companion to the night’s earlier fire.
With this release, Fouk prove why they’re among the most exciting duos in the scene right now,
blending classic house tropes with their own unique flair to deliver an EP that feels timeless yet
fresh.

A1 - Get It Done
A2 - Floating
B1 - Neon Drift (Club Mix)
B2 - Neon Drift (First Light Mix

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“Krok” means “step” in Belarusian - and for Alex Chumak and his band this word comes with a lot of meaning. It’s the title and theme that run throughout SOYUZ's fourth album, reflecting the journeys the band has navigated in recent years, having moved to Warsaw due to political unrest in their homeland of Belarus and the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Embracing the uncertainty became both the inspiration and main lyrical theme for Alex Chumak, SOYUZ’ composer and arranger, who also decided to go a step further and change the language in which he writes songs from Russian, which is used as lingua franca in many post-Soviet countries, to his native Belarusian. The result is nine songs about dreams and outer space, ordinary miracles, things very close and very distant at the same time.

In early 2022, Chumak and original members, Mikita Arlou and Anton Nemahai, joined tens of thousands of Belarusians seeking safety abroad. Resettling in Warsaw, the band released Force of the Wind in October 2022, garnering widespread acclaim, a string of major European gigs, and led to Polish musicians Albert Karch and Igor Wisniewski joining the band.

Deeper and more melancholic than previous works, KROK is quintessentially SOYUZ, laced with hope, dreams and a celebration of life. Given the difficulties with finding rehearsal and recording spaces in Warsaw and the departure of the drummer Anton Nemahai from the band, Chumak explored alternative options. He reached out to friend and fellow musical collaborator, Sessa, about the possibility of recording the new album in his recently finished studio in São Paulo, with Sessa and Biel Basile coming onboard as recording engineers.

At the tail end of 2024, Chumak and SOYUZ’ new drummer, Albert Karch, made the trip to São Paulo to record the first sessions for KROK. Sadly, they travelled without Mikita Arlou, SOYUZ’ co-founder and Chumak’s longtime creative partner, due to the financial impossibility of bringing him too. Laid down directly to tape, these sessions featured prominent Brazilian musicians Sessa, Biel Basile, and Marcelo Cabral, with a guest vocal feature by Tim Bernardes recorded at a later date. The final touches were then added back in Europe. Lush string and woodwind arrangements written by Chumak and Karch were recorded at the Polish Radio studio in Warsaw, and Rhodes parts were added by Chumak at Sven Wunder’s studio in Stockholm.

Though primarily recorded in Brazil, KROK is not a Brazilian or MPB album. It blends the bands' Eastern European roots with jazz, folk and global influences. The genre of the music is hardly identifiable: there are folk ballads and jazz-driven pop compositions covered in lush and often dissonant string and woodwind arrangements where each note is placed with care and meaning behind it.

Broad in its palette, KROK is full of highlights. The title track was the first song Chumak wrote in Belarusian as an adult, making for a fitting opener and one of the band’s finest tracks. Darker than most of SOYUZ’ songs, the tensions lift and lighten as the track progresses. The cinematic library jazz of 'Voo Livre', with ghostly vocals sung by Ciça Góes and Ina, feels like a modern twist on the Italian library composer Alessandro Alessandroni through its sublime choir and woodwind orchestration. Elsewhere, the heartfelt 'Lingua Do Mundo', composed, written, and sung by Chumak and the incredible Tim Bernardes, features one of the standout string arrangements from Chumak and Karch. 'Cichi Karahod' is an instant SOYUZ classic, almost Pat Metheny-esque as it opens, with the acoustic guitar and bass riff transitioning into jazzy AOR / pop-folk territory. The record closes with 'Smak žyccia', a gentle, dreamy spoken-word poetry piece in Japanese by singer-songwriter Manami Kakudo.

Despite immense challenges, SOYUZ have delivered a career-defining album in KROK. Heartfelt and beautiful, it is not an imitation of the past, but rather a truly original, contemporary expression all of its own.

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Belgian independent label De:tuned, founded by Ruben Boons and Bert Hermans, celebrates its 50th release with the long-awaited 10-track studio album 'Analog Days' by Swedish electronic music pioneer Robert Leiner. During the first years of De:tuned, Robert Leiner (aka The Source Experience) played a vital part in kick-starting the label. He also graced the De:tuned parties with his outstanding dj sets and captivating live acts.

Continuing the label's 15th anniversary celebrations, De:tuned and Robert Leiner mark the occasion with an extraordinary collection of mostly hardware productions recorded between 2005 and 2015. These diverse jams have now been mixed and completed for this momentous milestone. On offer a unique interplay of rhythmic movement and soothing sounds, each presenting Robert's distinct characteristics. Enjoy the trip. It has always been there, you just have to discover it!

Kevin Foakes (Openmind, DJ Food, Ninja Tune) created all the graphic work. Mastered by Matt Colton at Metropolis. A separate digital release will also be available at the usual digital shops. Stay tuned!

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Repress!


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