Tracklist: (1) Sven Väth – L'Esperanza (Original Album Version) (DE-Q20-24-00009)
(2) Sven Väth – L'Esperanza (Hardspace Mix) (DE-Q20-24-00010)


L'Esperanza (Hope) is undoubtedly one of Sven Väth's greatest hits. After more than 30 years, we are very proud to revive this timeless masterpiece for you on Cocoon Recordings. The artwork of the A-side is from the original 12" cover, which was released on Eye Q Records back then. Anyone who knows Sven recognizes that he has always felt free and evolved in terms of appearance and style. That's why we instantly loved the idea of Sven re-staging himself in the same pose but in a new guise. This picture disc documents a 30-year-long transformation, both sonically and visually. It is a beautiful journey through time and a true collector’s item.

A1: L'Esperanza (Original Album Version) 1993 Produced in 1993, this track has certainly not lost any of its charm over the years. Lovely string sounds envelop you in a cloud of comfort, while the filtered downbeat emphasizes this feeling of lightness. The catchy tune of the playful synthesizer melody invites you to close your eyes and start dreaming. Let yourself fall into a deep state of meditation and trance. The airy electric bassline comes with a charismatic power and opens a door to the subconscious, calling on you to dive deep. The atmosphere of this composition sits somewhere between drifting through the sea and hovering through space.

B1: L'Esperanza (Hardspace Mix) 2023 A revised version of the "Hope Will Move Mountains Mix" by "Visions Of Shiva" occurs on the B-Side in the form of Len Faki’s hardspace mix. Len is renowned for his elegant edits and refined modifications as part of his side project, this time delivering a stripped-down 135 BPM version that fits perfectly into the current zeitgeist. A club version of "L'Esperanza" that radiates a high level of euphoric energy, constantly pushing the rhythm patterns forward. All hands go up in the air at the latest when the piano part starts in the middle section. Let’s go back to the good old days of the original 90s trance sound since the cheerful arpeggio synth melody takes us along.

What is certain, you can't tell that either version has been around for 30 years.




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Tracklist
A1. KiNK - Chaka Raka
A2. KiNK - Aerotrim
B1. KiNK - Pista
B2. KiNK & Rachel Row – Call Nasco
B3. Kink - Kobudai

Shortinfo:
For the third release on Sofia Strahil Velchev is offering a selection of five diverse tracks, developing the concept of the label: rambling beats and alternative tunings, a feeling that the tracks will fall into pieces any moment. What keeps the compositions together is the artist's sense of melody and relentless groove. House, Techno, Disco and Electro, twisted through a KiNKy mind.

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2 x 12"

Tracklist 12":

A1) House Tipo Cosi 5:19
A2) Mi Fa Volare 6:57
B1) Ancora 4:11
B2) Perfetta Cosi 4:20
B3) Amigo 5:33
C1) Dentro Di Me 4:38
C2) Danza Organica 4:25
C3) Es Buena 4:53
D1) Ma Sei Fuori 4:53
D2) Chiamami Subito 4:44
D3) Non Si Ferma Mai 4:47

Italian producer, musician, DJ, and groove architect Sam Ruffillo drops his long-awaited debut album Tipo Così on Toy Tonics – a sun-drenched, genre-blurring statement that blends classic house with Mediterranean flair, romantic funk, and tongue-in-cheek Italo vibes. Over 11 expertly crafted tracks, Ruffillo delivers a dancefloor-ready, emotionally rich LP that connects deep musicality with irresistible rhythm and light-hearted elegance.

After three acclaimed EPs and collaborations with revered artists such as Barbara Boeing, Kapote, and Fimiani, Ruffillo has firmly cemented himself as a core artist on the Berlin-based label. Known for his unmistakable signature sound — a warm mix of vintage disco, 90s house, and Italian vocals — Sam’s music has garnered widespread DJ support from tastemakers like Gerd Janson, Palms Trax, Seth Troxler, and DJ Tennis, while becoming a staple on Italian airwaves. His infectious summer anthems like Danza Organica and Perfetta Così have soundtracked countless club nights and festivals, creating a loyal following that eagerly awaited this full-length debut.

Tipo Così is the natural culmination of a musical journey that’s both playful and profound — a travel diary written in grooves, synth stabs, and melodies that feel like postcards from a parallel Mediterranean universe. The album expands and deepens Ruffillo’s world into a fully immersive experience: lush emotional chords meet tight syncopated grooves, vintage synth textures collide with irresistibly catchy pop refrains, and the boundary between sincerity and playful irony is exquisitely blurred.

Entirely written, produced, and recorded in Italy, in his beloved hometown of Bologna, the album finds Ruffillo at the helm on keys, drum machines, and production, supported by a talented cast of musicians contributing live bass, guitar, and other organic elements — further enriching his trademark fusion of electronic grooves and natural instrumentation. There’s a tactile warmth in these tracks, a hands-on feel that adds soul and depth to every beat.

This album also marks Ruffillo’s heartfelt return to singing in Italian, with standout tracks like House Tipo Così, Mi Fa Volare, Ancora, and Dentro Di Me, where romantic naïveté meets pulsing club energy in a way that feels both timeless and refreshingly new. The vocal performances add an intimate, human touch to the music, reinforcing the personal stories woven into each song. There’s poetry in the casual, a bittersweet elegance in the way the lyrics float over groove-heavy production.

Having toured extensively across Europe, Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Mexico — with sets at iconic venues like Panorama Bar and festivals such as Sónar Barcelona — Ruffillo has fine-tuned much of this album in front of live audiences. The real-world testing ground infused the record with a dynamic energy and immediacy that only comes from genuine crowd interaction. These songs weren’t just made in the studio — they were lived on dancefloors around the world.

Tipo Così is not just a collection of tracks. It’s a philosophy — playful, stylish and unmistakably personal. A modern club album bursting with heartfelt emotion and sophistication. Music for dancers with taste; for lovers of beauty, rhythm, and the little imperfections that make things feel real.

But what exactly is Tipo Così? More than just a phrase, it’s a way of being. It’s about embracing elegance without effort, mixing irony with sincerity, and letting nostalgia slip into the room without taking over the party. It’s Sam Ruffillo’s signature language: relaxed, confident, meticulous yet never rigid — where a chord progression can say as much as a lyric, and every beat carries intention.

The album’s visual identity complements this vision perfectly. The artwork and promotional materials lovingly reference Italian design from the ’80s and ’90s, combining bold graphic elements with playful pop culture nods. This aesthetic mirrors Ruffillo’s music — a fusion of vintage warmth and contemporary freshness, delivered with authenticity and charm.

Sam Ruffillo belongs to a new generation of European artists who are reshaping electronic music by blending past and present, analog and digital, groove and emotion — without nostalgia or pose. His artistic universe is coherent, vibrant, and alive; a rich tapestry of sound, images, and stories that coexist with lightness, precision, and a distinctive voice.

Reflecting on his artistic journey, Sam describes music as a vital, deeply human impulse — a tribal connection to rhythm and body that has driven him since he was a teenager. His creative process balances meticulous planning with room for spontaneity, usually sparked by clear melodic ideas that evolve naturally. Collaborations with close friends, especially vocalists like Ninfa, add warmth and authenticity, exemplified in tracks like “House Tipo Così.” For Sam, music is honest self-expression — crafted for listeners who crave memorable melodies and rhythms imbued with genuine feeling.

While technical perfection is tempting, Sam prioritizes emotion, knowing that what truly resonates is the soul behind the sounds. His long-standing partnership with Toy Tonics has been key in nurturing his vision, offering a blend of creative freedom and professional support. Looking ahead, Sam Ruffillo is excited to broaden his live performances, and release new projects that continue to blend electronic grooves with organic, heartfelt sounds — maintaining the delicate balance between playful irony and sincere emotion that defines Tipo Così.




Kurzversion:
Italian DJ, producer and musician Sam Ruffillo drops his debut album Tipo Così on Toy Tonics - a sunny blend of house, funk, Italo and pop, full of groove and emotion. Written and recorded in Bologna with live instruments and Italian vocals, it’s a playful, elegant journey shaped on dancefloors worldwide. A stylish, sincere club album where nostalgia, irony and rhythm meet in perfect harmony.

- Mi Fa Volare
Road-tested across continents and now finally released, “Mi Fa Volare” channels 90s uplifting euphoria with big breakbeats, lush chords, and Italian vocals built to stick. Somewhere between balearic bliss and piano house nostalgia, it’s a feel-good club weapon made for peak-time moments - already sung back by crowds after just one listen.


- Ancora
“Ancora” is a vibrant hi-NRG track inspired by 80s Italo disco, sung entirely in Italian. It blends driving rhythms with dreamy melodies, capturing the radiant spirit of the decade. This fresh yet nostalgic song delivers euphoric vibes and timeless energy, making it a perfect fit for both dancefloors and reflective listening moments worldwide.


- Dentro Di Me
“Dentro Di Me” channels ‘90s sensuality through a fast-paced, UK house-inspired lens. Entirely in Italian, it’s a bold and contemporary dance track where hypnotic vocals meet high-energy grooves. Blending nostalgic textures with forward-thinking production, the result is a seductive and euphoric trip - equal parts emotional and club-ready.


- Amigo
“Amigo” blends Latin groove, acoustic guitar-driven rhythm, and Mediterranean flair into a warm, magnetic, cross-cultural dance anthem. Sung in Spanish and Italian, it celebrates connection, inclusivity, and the joy of moving together - whether stranger or friend. With its unstoppable rhythm and vibrant energy, it’s a feel-good track with a unifying spirit.


- Ma Sei Fuori
“Ma Sei Fuori” is a tongue-in-cheek dancefloor bomb blending raw house energy with catchy vocal phrases and a nod to classic French touch. Driven by hypnotic vocal lines and a playful attitude, it doesn’t take itself too seriously - while still proving serious club impact. Built for late-night moments, it’s bold, bouncy, and impossible to ignore.


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Tracklist

A1. Sarcosuco
A2. Dimetrodonte
B1. Diplodoco
B2. Gastonia


Fango’s debut EP for Running Back draws a map of the Italian’s wonderful world of sounds. To help music journalists in their ongoing search for new genres, it’s a planet that consist of techno punk, ebm house and outsider disco.
Fed by the unbroken fascination with all things dinosaurs (no pun intended) that Fango shared with his son, reading books, watching documentaries and visiting museums, he found a new place and created a sound for it. If you have ever looked for a danceable soundtrack that resembles strange dinosaurs, dark clouds, active volcanoes and powerful winds, you have finally found it. Aptly named after four different dinosaurs, this Ep consists of the irresistible uplifting vibe that is Sarcosuco and its sweet and melancholic counterpart Diplodoco, while the slow-motion rave Dimetrodonte and Gastonia mirror Fango’s darker and tool-like character. All in all, it’s like watching a dinosaur mosh pit from space. Special artwork by Luca Zamoc.







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2024 Repress

Tracklist
A. DJ KOZE- DRIVEN
B. ROBAG WRUHME - X-mop 198
Info:
Hart & Tief returns. Pampa's dark bastard. The Proverbial black sheep.
For the second statement from the label, we have the twin voices of DJ Koze and Robag Wruhme. Both are masters at remaining simultaneously identifiable yet surprising, and the freedom afforded by this fledgling label sees them push their respective milieus.
Driven see's Koze return to previously mined percussive tropes and plumb a new minimalist clarity of emotion through maximal means. The track thuds, clicks and pumps in a singular trajectory that belies its complexity and compliments its title.
Not to be outdone, Robag Wruhme provides X-mop 198, a slice of linear horror-techno that deftly re-contextualises its simplistic components in to a jagged and constantly surprising listen, creating a form of body music for the mind.


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Rødhåd presents: CRIMSON RUBEUS - the first ever compilation on WSNWG - BACK TO ZERO will be released on April 3rd
Under the leitmotif "WE SEE NEW WORLDS GROWING", the release marks a progression for the imprint to open up for solo releases from new artists and and long term collaboraters.
The compilation features 8 tracks handpicked by Rødhåd, each characterized by a vigorous commitment to the dancefloor while staying true to the label's signature - hard-to-resist sound with a pinch of mystery.
While every contribution has its distinct magnetic pull, marking the way to a nascent world, the crimson red thread running through this compilation is perpetuating, swirling techno with an acute fit for the dancefloor. As with previous releases Rødhåd crafted the artwork for the compilation, this time drenched in crimson hues echoing the energy of the music.

A1 Uväll - Acamar
A2 Arkan - Dissonance
B1 Inox Traxx - Decision
B2 Nastia Reigel - Limit Y
C1 SAMA - Do You Love Me?
C2 UFO95 - Refuge
D1 Ø [Phase] - Exiting The Delusion
D2 Kameliia - Above You And Me


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Format Notes: 2024 first time vinyl reissue, 140g vinyl

Track List:

A1 The Rough With The Smooth
A2 Beautiful People
A3 Tumbleweed
A4 Bits And Bats
A5 A Change Of Pace
A6 Janelle

B1 Time And A Half
B2 Supersplash
B3 Fillet Of Soul
B4 Well Above Average
B5 The Clan
B6 Sing Song

Release Notes:


Music To Varnish Owls By. Does Geoff Bastow have a claim for the best album title of all time? It's certainly up there. It's also one of the hardest to find library funk records. But don't let the eye-catching name fool you into thinking this isn't serious business.

As a key member of Giorgio Moroder's team, the legendary Geoff Bastow shouldn't need any introduction. You'll be familiar with his singular brilliance as the brains behind the much-sampled boogie/disco classics "You Don't Like My Music (Hupendi Muziki Wangu?!)" and "Don't Stop", released by his group, K.I.D.

But 1975's Music To Varnish Owls By is where it all began for our hero.

It's packed with incredibly soulful, soothing music that - despite being utilised a few times by Knxwledge - remains still largely un-mined. So, beat-makers, get cracking. And instead of that hyper-rare original, spend that £300 on something else.

Born in 1949, Bastow was a Munich-based English songwriter and record producer. Originally working as a guitarist and pianist in dance bands around his home county of Yorkshire, he moved to London in the early 1970s and then Munich in around 1976. He was one of the main architects of the Munich disco sound of electronic innovator Giorgio Moroder and also released heaps of killer library records for legendary labels like Bruton (with brother Trevor), Impress, JW Music Library and the Munich-based Sonoton between the 1970s-2000s. Bastow died tragically young, in Berlin, Germany on 16 March 2007, at the age of just 57. But he left behind a truly incredible electronic music legacy. He deserves to be much better known and this reissue should bring him to a fair few more ears. Let's see why...

Light-hearted opener "The Rough With The Smooth" contains a killer open drum break and is basically guitar-drenched flute-laced piano-funk. However, the first genuine highlight, "Beautiful People", is just majestic. Reflective, pastoral and silky smooth - as the title suggests, it's just straight beautiful; a chiming, deeply soulful instrumental that has to be heard to be believed. Sampled by Knxwledge but nobody else of note, which is crazy. Slo-mo soul beat "Tumbleweed" is another stone cold track just desperate to be laced by a skilled MC. Laconic, lysergic funk with nostalgic overtones, the guitar is prominent but the flute and glock really elevate it to perfection.

"Bits And Bats" is clav-enhanced Blaxploitation-esque street-funk with tough bass and crunchy drums that, despite its hardness, manages to flirt with breeziness. All in all, sumptuous, pounding wah-wah brilliance. Another huge one, up next. The insistent piano-funk head-nodder "A Change Of Pace" is a total sleuth-funk jammer, with a wonderfully soft snare and more hypnotic, melancholic flute lines. Man, we'd love to hear Alchemist chop this up. It even sounds a bit like Bastow was keeping things thoro with this one. Closing out Side A, the bright and breezy Bossa of "Janelle" makes it a perfect run of six untouchable gems. As elegant as it is sleazy, it sounds like it could've been on the classic KPM greensleeve, Piano Viberations.

Side B opens with the Ramsey Lewis-inspired "Time And A Half", a deceptively simple bass, drums and piano workout, decorated with stylish percussion with some great chord changes and hints of drama via a great bass solo. The heavy "Supersplash" is a doped-out drama suite with fuzzy wah-wah guitars, electric piano and glock. "Fillet Of Soul" is a catchy wah-wah propelled shuffle with piano and vibes, super dynamic but also incredibly chill.

"Well Above Average" is exactly that, a funky instrumental that serves as a straight ahead guitar-soul workout. Oozing bass-driven class, it gets better with every listen. Some open drums for your delectation, too. The fuzzy clav-and-vibes funk of "The Clan" - also understandably sampled by Knxwledge - is a monster head-nod slow jam whilst, seeing us out, the uber-relaxed "Sing Song" rounds things off in bright fashion with its slow but insistent clav, electric piano and glock greatness. Swoon.

As ever, the audio for Music To Varnish Owls By has been carefully remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring it sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original, iconic sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.


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