It’s been 5 years since North Lake delivered the ‘Moonwalker’ 12” on Phonica’s main label and it’s telling that to this day it’s one of the most requested for a repress. That’s not to say he’s been idle in the years since then, his releases for Life & Death, Permanent Vacation and Ellum Audio have cemented his reputation as a trusted producer in the world of leftfield Techno.
North Lake is Michigan-based Isaac Delongchamp and his ‘Hearing Voices’ EP features four tracks that illustrate his influences, stretching from classic Detroit Techno to Deep House and even New Age and Ambient. In fact, these four tracks could work as a story, from the opening title track, ‘Hearing Voices’ through two peak-time housers into the after-hours vibe of the final track.
‘Hearing Voices’ is the standout here based on a beautiful looping keyboard melody which subtly grows, progressing and ascending to a deceptive moment of silence before returning to its original melody. Next up ‘Vibing To Your Vibe’ is a perfect combination of organic and electronic elements with little synth details and an 80s Electro vibe adding to the 4/4 groove.
On the flip, the simple but devastatingly effective Omar S-esque ‘Magic Ride’, the EP’s peak energy moment and the logical follow-up to his first Phonica release with Dixon-favourite ‘Marlborol Noir’. Finally, the record comes to an end with ‘Teenage Heartbreak’, a mellow, classy House production that works just as well on the dancefloor as well as home listening. More

Deep Dubby, dark punchy techno, from North Lake. With a touch of melodic reprise to wrap up the total package for yet another solid and strong EP on ELLUM More

Following Lord Of The Isles' "Year Of the City EP" Phonica Records return with a solid 3 tracker from North Lake. "We've been fans of North Lake here at Phonica HQ ever since his Resista outing last year and his second EP on Sweatshop and contribution to the first Blank Slate release only reinforced our desire to release an EP from this talented producer." "Moonwalker" features three analog jams born out of live sessions - three beautiful synth cuts for home and club listening that instantly bring parallels to early Isolee material; melodic and heavy enough to whip up a frenzy on the dancefloor. "Marlborol Noir" kicks off proceedings, chugging away effortlessly with it's ascending and descending synth riffs, the spawn of a long imprpvised session in the studio. "Suomi Kutsuu" opens the b-side emphatically, a heavy galloping rhythm and an ascending synth riff dominating from the off. It's six minutes of pure analog battle gear. Rounding off the EP, title track "Moonwalker" is a pacy mix of arpeggiated synths, intricate drum programing and eerie melodies that intertwine perfectly with the bass-heavy syncopated kick drum. More

King of Town (KoT), originally from Johannesburg but now in the UK, is back after a nearly a decade hiatus from his mutant disco-inflected remixes.

Prior to his long break, King of Town remixed the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Slow Club, Alice Russell, the Detachments and the Phenomenal Handclap Band.
His remix of Desmond and the Tutus' 'Kiss You on the Cheek', released on Tigersushi in 2009, has become a regular feature of Spotify playlists and has racked up a few million listens across various streaming platforms.

For this release KoT serves up four exclusive re-edits.

Lord Have Mercy is a retouch of Willie West's slow-burn R&B lament of his own elegiac defiance, where KoT underpins West's groove with a 303 acid bassline and synth flourishes.
Swimming in Your Eyes is a beefing up of Pasteur Lappe's 1979 Rhodes-heavy space disco groove.
Troubles of this World takes OV Wrights ridiculously soulful take on a gospel classic and transforms it into a retro-futurist track aimed firmly at the dancefloor.
And with Khomo Tsaka Deile Kae KoT nods towards his roots and inserts drive and snap into fellow South African Marumo's 1982 kwela-touched stomper.

As always the artwork has been completed by the very talented Pedro Carvalho de Almeida.

Vinyl Only. More

Velvet Season & the Hearts of Gold is the musical adventures of Gerry Rooney (Black Cock Records co-founder alongside DJ Harvey) & Joel Martin (aka Zeus from Quiet Village alongside Radio Slave).
Continuing their series of exceptional releases, here is the new 'Special Versions' 12" for Resista - Free Your Mind!
'Love Directions'
An enlightened journey into hedonistic nightlife sounds for the dancefloor! - The connoisseur's choice for people who love to get down!
VSHOG weave their magic and transform this monster Philly groove into a mesmerising future dance classic, to ignite the senses, mind body and soul!
Soaring strings, Jazzy Fender Rhodes licks, tight fatback drumming, and the sweet soulful chorus, 'Come Follow Me'! Give yourself up to the music! Love is the message!
'Love Jelly'
The cream of British library session musicians recording moody David Axelrod Jean-Jacques Perry vibrati for the Hip Hop break beat sampler!
'Love Jelly', VSHOG exclusive special version is the spirit of the highly sophisticated 70's/80's London Jazz-Funk Rare Groove scene & warehouse parties.
The Cote d'Azur, Seductive Italian countesses driving Ferraris, a gentle breeze over the Mediterranean, the smell of Night Panther, and Leslie Anne-Down's Lingerie drawer!
Strangers in the Night...she had a tongue like an electric Eel!
As always the artwork has been completed by the very talented Pedro Carvalho de Almeida.
Vinyl Only. More

Gerry Rooney and Joel Martin's Velvet Season & The Hearts Of Gold project return with a second release for everyone's favourite illicit edit concern Resista, with Special Versions packing a pair of irresistible disco obscurities for dancefloors that like it odd and eccentric. They begin with "Magic Wand Steel Band", an Afro-influenced, Island-friendly fusion of low-slung disco-funk breaks, sharp guitar licks and expansive steel band solos. Flip for the relentlessly rolling, synth boogie-goes-disco house genius of "Love Coma", which sounds like a late night festival anthem in the making. Like everything else released on Resista, this one won't stay on the shelves for long! More

Gerry Rooney and Joel Martin's Velvet Season & The Hearts Of Gold project return with a second release for everyone's favourite illicit edit concern Resista, with Special Versions packing a pair of irresistible disco obscurities for dancefloors that like it odd and eccentric. They begin with "Magic Wand Steel Band", an Afro-influenced, Island-friendly fusion of low-slung disco-funk breaks, sharp guitar licks and expansive steel band solos. Flip for the relentlessly rolling, synth boogie-goes-disco house genius of "Love Coma", which sounds like a late night festival anthem in the making. Like everything else released on Resista, this one won't stay on the shelves for long! More

Famed for their self-released ‘KM Editions’ series, Keyboard Masher join Daphni & Tom Croose in the Resista family with the roaring “Afro Editions” - two faultless edits that distil the spirit of mother Africa. Opener “JuJu” is an epic fifteen minute long journey filled with joyous, duelling guitars, syncopated percussion, shuffling rhythms and a myriad of unexpected passages and turns. Captivating from the off, there’s only one word to describe “JuJu” – ‘magical’. On the flip “ Tcham Tcham” takes a more direct route to the dancefloor… Riding on a more electronic 4/4 beat, it’s unashamedly leftfield, with a thunderous chug, a great guitar riff and deadpan calls of ‘Tcham Tcham’, which all builds up to an anthemic climax. Drop it and watch the dancefloor melt.

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One half of NY duo Worst Friends, Tom Croose delves into territories Brazilian, with Cho Chua, a faultless rework of a certain Tropicalista. He loops up the swinging guitar intro, which combined with a vocal hook makes for a heady mix. It's an uplifiting, joyous ode to all things tropical. on the flip "dukes dub" is a subtler more restrained version that makes great us of effects and brings the percussion more to the fore. More