Toby Tobias has a lengthy history of disturbing the peace. This is his second offering for the ESP Institute. On side A, Second Stimulus stirs shimmering staccato chords, roaming pipes and detuned robotic sighs into quite the disorienting stew—the loose arrangement remaining fragmented over 9 minutes of touch-and-go 808 programming, picking up a pseudo bassline assembled from sub toms, introducing a gritty break loop and eventually blissing out into oblivion. With side B’s Synchro Surfer, Toby plays with the notion of suspense by gently teasing a muted kick and percussion rhythm under washes of white noise, bleeps and sirens that are tape-dubbed and which, over time, begin a dialogue with each other, as if the machines have declared mutiny on the garage. Toby continues to stretch his limits with his output for the ESP Institute, possibly headed toward a full-fledged devolution of conventional dance music. These two songs may have you arrested for public nuisance. More

Toby Tobias joins Delusions again for what will be his sixth(!) 12” entitled
The Rain. The prolific Londoner whose releases have graced such
venerable labels as Rekids, ESP Intistute and Let’s Play House, is back with
a vengeance, delivering two mighty fine originals plus a remix from
Nebraska.
In true Toby Tobias style, The Rain got made on an MPC, sliced and
edited from a single live take through the desk then accidentally deleted so
no further mixing, sequencing or editing could be carried out. But what is
an A&R man’s nightmare, turns out to be the record buying DJ’s gain, as
the improvised, dubby vibe and raw as ***k mixdown give the track an
authentic feel and energy which could only come from the madness in
Toby’s method.
Fresh from his brilliant releases on Mister Saturday Night and Razor n Tape,
we have our man Nebraska do his thing on the remix of The Rain.
Dropping down the BPM’s a bit from Toby’s more frenetic original,
Nebraska add’s a healthy dose of moogy lead lines to the lo-slung house
groove, perfect for warming up the dancefloor.
Closing this release we have New Way Of Feeling which sees Toby in
playful mode with a percussion heavy, driving basement jam. FM pads
form the centerpiece of the track whilst flourishes of Juno come and go,
hints of early 90’s IDM shining through on the glistening sine-wave
melodies. All in all a glorious melting pot of ideas and influences all over
this release which make for one of his strongest yet for Delusions More

Toby Tobias can be found in the shadows of South London. This is his first offering for the ESP Institute. On side A, 'Gravitator' evolves slowly over ten minutes from a somber intro of supernatural sighs, pulsing machine feedback and techno squelches into an ethereal landscape peppered with dissonant fragments of synth. With side B’s 'Right Turn To Nowhere', Toby stretches out even further, flexing a tasteful programming of the 808 while taking the long road to a reverb-drenched crescendo of distortions and expansive string swells. After a prolific output of material for other quality labels around the world, Toby Tobias has undoubtedly re-focused his point-of-view upon his induction to the ESP Institute. These two songs will have you locking up your children at night. More

It is common knowledge Toby Tobias used to rule the coasts of Ibiza with his Balearic Iron Funk! Now back on his home turf of London, Toby has chosen the Cosmic Pint Glass to tell us the story Sun, Sea and Madness! A Room for Babette is a Balearic House Funk bomb filled with sandy frolics and a touch of mayhem. Afterwards we hit the romance button. Touch Meh is a one of the smoothest edits to be given the Toby treatment and on the flip Ptaki take you on an amazingly beautiful 12 minute journey around the islands with their A Room for Babette remix complete with dolphins! When Toby Tobias visited Ibiza he used to stay at an amazing B&B ran by Babette. She was one of the original party people of the island and would hang out with the likes of Grace Jones.
A Room for Babette echoes that summer madness only found on these islands in a certain time and place. The track starts off with that feeling of disorientation that perhaps a few midday holiday brews might bring on. An erratic beat and explosions rattle overhead, until the soothing sounds of a synthesised flute float in. Shortly after a saxophone joins in and the explosions start up again. It's at this point things start to get fun! Tensions are rising and the boogie is starting to happen! Before long you're travelling at full tilt! Toby has been part of the London scene since breaking some shapes in the streets back in the 80's. He has seen genres come and go and all the while been adding to his record collection. In this track you can hear a cross pollination of Styles from Funk, House, Soca and even No Wave making for a DJ friendly track and has a genuinely rare style. After the evening out on the town, it's time to go back to the chalet for a night of romance. Touch Meh is a one of the smoothest, romantic edits. Toby adds his magic to re-edit with the addition of some powerful drums making for a seriously raunchy track! The next day (On the flip of the EP) we meet up with Ptaki, everyone is feeling a little delicate so the boys take you to their favourite cove, or that's what it sounds like. A Room for Babette remix has been tamed beautifully to give a wholly relaxing track with the addition of an amazing string sample that sits perfectly in the groove. The explosions and erratic drums are gone leaving the sound of paradise. After a small visit to some dolphins a rhythm on the horizon can be heard and after a little while, we find ourselves in a trance, fully relaxed to the deep house sound of Ptaki.
What an amazing holiday! .

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Following hot on the heels of Toby’s brilliant long player Rising Son we bring you a couple of our favorite tracks remixed by two of our favorite producers, namely I:Cube and Session Victim. The Versatile veteran Nicolas Chaix kicks things off in his own unique style on his interpretation of Love Affair with widescreen pads and subterranean clanks and growls setting things up for a heady house journey. Session Victim do their thing on Slo Flava, jacking up the tempo and turning in a bouncing live jam with a soulful edge. Completing this EP we also have the two original versions of Love Affair and Slo Flava in all their glory. More

TRACKLISTING:
01. The Wonder ft Atwell 02. Love Affair 03. Hot 22 04. Sloflava 05. Only Getting Better ft. Atwell 06. Sending Signals 07. I Robot 08. Broken Computer 09. Ban co Nights 10. Vague Vogue 11. Friday Analogue Jam 12. Whisper It 13. Weird Danger 14. Headway

OVERVIEW: Toby Tobias has been responsible for some fine quality music over the past 10 years with labels such as Rekids, Nang, Let's Play House and Quintessentials all dropping his unique brand of raw, analogue house and techno. A DJ's DJ who always seems to pull out a lesser known gem and make it sound like a classic, Toby knows his music as well as his studio, inside out. We've been proud to deliver three EP's from him on Delusions but we all felt the time was right for a full length, especially considering that 7 years have passed since his debut LP Space Shuffle on Rekids. Toby fully embraced the scope and breadth that an LP affords a producer, holing up in his Hackney studio and losing himself in his machines. Rising Son is the result of those sessions and it's brilliant!

From the opening machine funk of The Wonder featuring vocals from Atwell we can hear that Toby is quite sure about the direction he's taken for the LP. 808 beats bring vintage electro vibes whilst Atwell's vocal hints at the golden era of Chicago house, adding a soulful touch to the rigid groove. Love Affair continues the theme of off-world utopia where the droids have a heart and soul and sing torch songs of love lost, the Moroder-esque influences bringing a retro sheen to the LP. As we continue through tracks such as
Sloflava and Sending Signals we find blissful, downtempo jams which perfectly soundtrack this imagined night time world which Toby seems so happy to immerse himself and his listeners in.

I Robot follows, providing the one cover version on the LP from the Alan Parsons Project as well as being an LP defining focal point. A track which shows that when the machines are working for you, it could just be a perfect world. But Broken Computer soon shows us what can happen when things go wrong. Incidentally, this is from a genuine computer crash which Toby managed to capture using his phone. A beautiful glitch in the system which spewed out such a mournful noise and a very happy accident that would be completely impossible to create if you set out to try.

As we continue we're treated to the likes of Friday Analogue Jam, Whisper It and Weird. Danger, all echoing bleeps, squelching bass notes, heavenly pads and precision beats. In some ways we get a feeling of a land that time forgot, in others something of sublime beauty and futurism. That Toby can paint pictures with his music in this way speaks volumes, knowing instinctively when to draw out a mood or feeling or flip things on their head to command your attention and beg another listen. And another.....

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It’s Toby Tobias time folks! Ahead of his brilliant LP which will be dropping here on DOG in September we give you a little reminder of why he’s one of the heroes of the underground UK house scene. Toby has been honing his skills as a producer, DJ, promoter and all round nice guy for years now and we’re very happy to be offering up fresh new club business from the man himself in the form of The Rising EP. Never one to go for the obvious, he always puts his neck on the line and pushes his productions in an interesting and often unexpected direction, making full use of his fully analogue studio to get those ‘happy accidents’ into his tracks which gives him the edge over so many others on the scene today. Even with a straight up club banger like The Rising, Toby makes sure things stay edgy, raw and just a little bit mental. At the end of the day this is a Chi-town influenced filter disco banger but with fresh spin that’ll make sure it creates the perfect vibe when you drop it in the clubs. Taking things in a deeper direction we have Jitterbug on the remix, keeping the pace and drive but dipping the original in a vat of thick, syrupy treacle which gives us an altogether more heady, spaced out vibe for those moments when only the trippiest shit will suffice. Flip over for Toby’s own dub version of The Rising which strips it all back and warps it out for a loopey, Soundstream influenced take on the original. Full of attitude but keeping the bags of fun times feel with more punch than Frank Bruno (in his heyday!)

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Toby Tobias coming through with the fresh raw s**t for Delusions! Two original tracks here absolutely loaded full of old school analogue machine funk and crazy dub tricknology. It's Burning builds around a beautiful chiming synth while a filtering acid bass line and 808 snares add a distinct bit of B-Boy to the mix. I Give You love heads for a more rugged house vibe complimenting the intense, loosely timed vocal hits perfectly. On the flip we have London Housing Trust bringing serious heat on their remix, jacking up the tempo but adding some decidedly tripped-out synth tweaks resulting in a show stopping reworking primed for freaking people out on the dancefloor. Finally we have that man Lauer working his magic on It's Burning, building up the track around some beautifully euphoric synth stabs and bassline. The perfect close to an EP in which it's very difficult to try and find words to justify. We think Toby Tobias has turned in some of his best ever work here and absolutely love this whole record so really hope you share the same admiration for the release as we do! More

Toby Tobias joins the D.O.G crew for release no. 29 and fits like the proverbial glove with an incredible EP which truly lives up to it's name. It's probably fair to say that Toby is one of the unsung heroes of the UK scene having played a pivotal part in developing the underground disco scene of the late noughties. His Late Night Audio parties alongside releases on Rekids, Let's Play House, Nang and Quintessentials speak volumes as to the mans skills and fastidious nature and here he delivers what we'd be so bold as to say his best work yet with the Pathfinder EP. The title track kicks off and instantly you know you're in for a joyous ride with the rawest house-not-house beats, p-funk bass and echoing stabs. Toby has a way of mixing up the sounds and vibes to bring a fresh and original sound but with plenty of depth and drive. Next up Fabrizio Mammarella gets stuck into Pathfinder reworking the original into a slightly straighter, bass-heavy monster of a track which keeps the dubbed out chords but totally wreaks havoc on the bottom end when the bassline drops. Flipping over we're treated to the slower paced Backbeat which builds around floating chords, chopped vocals and a boogie-inspired bassline. A true Balearic beauty! Finally we have a stunning little number called Abregon which completely defies categorization but manages to successfully fuse elements of jazz, fusion, hi life and house into a brilliantly quirky track which we challenge you not to want to do some freaky-deaky dance to.
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UPC 827170479265 Rel date 10.12.
Tracklist EP: a1. Toby Tobias - Running Away a2. Toby Tobias - Running Away (Homeboy Dub) b1. Toby Tobias feat. Be Atwell - Tres Mal b2. Toby Tobias feat. Be Atwell - Tres Mal (John Heckle remix)
Constantly providing quality over quantity Toby Tobias finally releases its debut on Burek. And as his biography states: "Toby's music is truly unique - in a genre now saturated with generic, formulaic music, Toby is one of the few who can claim to have his own sound"; so Toby brings to Burek its unique view on house music - tracks Running Away i Tres Mal. Running away is a classic house peak time tune with a 90's bass line, wonderful melodic synth stabs and a vocal sample which at its peak simply drives people crazy on the dance floor. Tres Mal wins the listeners almost instantly and has all the requirements to become a hit. Cleverly made arrangement, fat bass line and high quality production are filled with an exquisite vocal of Toby's close friend Be Atwell. On remix duty we have two up and coming producers. For Running away we chose a Croatian house talent Homeboy and he in return delivered a great rework, one of his best so far. In his hand Running away becomes a deep house tune with a moody ambiance and structure in which dance floor tuned chords from the original are turned to flow smoother. Without a doubt, John Heckle is one of last year's brightens stars. His tracks on Mathematics and Tabernacle Records have been among freshest productions around. Remix for Burek we can describe as his journey into deep house with his very own euphoric touch.
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Mexican brothers Soul Of Hex are back on Delusions Of Grandeur and deliver an absolute gem of an EP entitled Constellation. With recent releases on Underground Resistance (as Mano De Fuego) and an upcoming release on Kilometro 4.5 which features Mad Mike Banks and Kuniyuki it’s safe to say Soul Of Hex are keeping good company and have earned the respect they deserve through their talent, consistency and hard work. Leading the charge we have Face Down which is an absolute barnstormer of a track which features a killer electric bass line and low slung dubby disco drums and twisted FX. Simple, powerful and funky AF! Constellation is up next, picking up the BPM’s for a full on soulful piano house jam which features Javonntte and Mariana Phelts on vocals. Far from being a retro throwback, Soul Of Hex have successfully created a fresh and original slice of feel good, disco-influenced house music while doffing their caps to to the OG maestro Marshall Jefferson. Next up is Dimension Spell which brings some full on funk vibes to the table courtesy of More Lotion’s heavy guitar work. Euphoric synth pads bring the deep ness while the stripped back beats and punchy Moog bassline ensure maximum dance floor pressure. Closing out this brilliant EP we have Into The Night, a beast of a tune which fizzes with an understated energy thanks to it’s rolling, minimal groove. In your face syncopated Rhodes stabs skip around the disco drums while a repeating vocal sample brings that top line ear candy. More

Keita Sano joins forces with fellow Japanese producer XTAL and makes a welcome return to Delusions following last years amazing Love Is Emotion EP.

Those familiar with Keita’s production will know that his sound is a unique blend of raw, crunchy disco beats, touches of acid and a left-field sensibility which creates an intense and captivating atmosphere on the dance floor. A vibe that has seen his tracks become secret weapons for DJ’s as diverse as Ivan Smagghe, Pablo Fierro, DJ Nature, Frank Tope and Hot Toddy.

Kicking off the EP we have a track called Broken, a high energy and uplifting slice of loopy filter disco which hits all the right notes. Things roll along perfectly, building to a crescendo as a full on string break cuts loose, everything dropping away before slamming in with timbale fills joining the party.

Let Us Have Nice Days, The Sun is up next and makes great use of a classic Italo bassline to drive the track along whilst dub delay FX and side chained pads keep the energy bubbling. Bending bass synth notes bring an extra bit of drama without upsetting the flow and rolling 16th note intensity from the bassline. Feel the love!

Closing the release, we have Time Passing which slows the BPM slightly for a chugging slice of string-drenched gorgeousness. Drop this at sunset and watch as this melancholic gem creates a little bit of magic on the dance floor. More

It’s been exactly a year since the 6th Borough boys emerged from their hiatus to bring us the Rhythm & Truth EP. This killer three tracker picked up where they left off and showed us that fans of deep, dusty, dubbed-out disco were as hungry as ever for new 6BP material and went on to garner praise from the likes of Jamie 3:26, Luke Solomun, Dam Swindle, Young Pulse and the Faith crew to name a few. Here on their follow up we’re treated to more of the good stuff and sees Craig Smith and Graeme ‘Revenge’ Clark whipping up four new cuts spanning speaker- wobbling sub-aquatic grooves and stripped back deep house. One Way sets the tone with a subtle yet infectious percussive workout which is one of those mood setting tools which looks set to become a lot of DJ’s secret weapons this summer. Filtering strings and tweaked synths add that classic Chicago energy which won’t fail to get you locked into it’s groove. Spare Change treads a similar path but goes heavier on the echoing synth stabs and deep string pads proving that when the rhythm is rolling this nicely just let it roll. Flip over for Backlash which takes us deeper still with lush chords and driving square wave bassline taking centre stage supported by an unrelent ing kick drum which helps to keep an intensity throughout the arrangement. Closing out the EP we have The Other, which sees 6BP dropping the BPM’s to create a low-slung slice of deep, underground house perfection. More

Session Victim need little by way of introduction having been releasing on Delusions consistently for the last 10 years and becoming the undisputed poster boys for the label in the process. Despite their regular appearance however, it’s always a real treat to announce a new record from the German duo and we have to say, the Screen Off EP may well find them in their finest form to date! Coming hot off their latest downtempo LP entitled Low Key, Low Pressure for Night Time Stories, you can tell Hauke and Matthias were ready to take things back to the dance-floor and have delivered an EP which looks set to become a future classic and no doubt big in the box of discerning DJ’s the world over. Screen Off is really it’s own thing, living somewhere on the long and winding road between the Bar Kays and the Bad Brains, suffice to say that what it lacks in easily definable attributes it makes up for in sheer energy and raw attitude. Hauke and Matthias re-invite Jamaican poet and vocalist Ras Stimulant, who contemplates our screen addictions and urges us to disconnect and be present in the moment. Matthias’ rolling bassline provides the backbone, whilst hints of crunchy Moog and chopped guitar samples all bring a sense of urgency to the track. Light The Way acts as an antidote, bringing a sense of calm melancholia in contrast to the title track’s low-end, funked-up fervour. A soft focus and almost distant drum groove draws us in whilst arpeggiating synths add a sense of optimism, reinforcing the tracks title. Closing out the release we have Session Victim’s studio partner, good friend and all-round top producer Iron Curtis in for a remix of Light The Way. Johannes takes an interesting approach for his Illuminati interpretation, enhancing the breakbeat feel and mixing up chopped samples with classic 808 drums. A muscular bassline adds extra weight to his remix but without losing the subtle musicality and positive vibe of the original. Being the vinyl purists they are, Session Victim and Iron Curtis top up the physical 12“ EP with the exclusive Screen Off Acapella and an additional Iron Curtis Remix Reprise. More

Jimpster dons his Franc Spangler cap and joins forces with up and coming London-based producer and DJ Hudson’s Choice for a four track EP entitled Myatts Field. Touching on trippy slo-mo electronic grooves, tropical moods and percussive house jams it brings a more experimental and left field sound to Delusions Of Grandeur which we’re sure you’re going to love!

Opening track AcidMan sets the tone of the EP with a bubbling 303 line taking centre stage while pitched down vocals add a hint of menace, heightening the psychedelic mood. Dubby FX and analogue synth lines drift in and out of focus and give a live jam feel to the arrangement reminding us of something that might grace the decks of A Love From Outer Space. Heavily Percussed continues offering up a crazy percussion tool loaded with wonky cross rhythms, glitchy found sounds and a hypnotic synth sequence for good measure.
Flip over for Myatts Field, another slower tempo mutant discoid house groove which takes us on a deep trip into the jungle. Echoing sax and hazy vocals transport us to another world where Weather Report experimented with rolling four on the floor grooves and spacious dub.

Closing out the EP Roots picks up the pace with another percussion-heavy slice of tropical sounds which doffs a cap to masters such as Gregory and Osunlade. Steel pan melodic lines intersperse with chiming synth sequences making for an unusual yet hooky club track which will lock the dancers into its incessant groove. More

Dersu and Diego Figueura are Basel-based brothers also known as Alma Negra and have been responsible for some seriously fresh and funky, afro-inspired dance music since their inception a decade ago. With releases on Heist, Lumberjacks In Hell, Basic Fingers and their own Alma Negra imprint, the duo wear their Cape Verdean roots proudly on their sleeves ensuring a warm, tropical sound emanates through their productions. For their Delusions debut Alma Negra have delivered a compelling and well-rounded EP which shows off their skills across two original tracks, a dub version and a brilliant remix from Yuksek.

Title track Madrugada takes us directly to the afterparty. More specifically, the kitchen of the house party where the action invariably continues to the early hours. Live horns, guitar, percussion and bass all bring a big sound and real band groove to the production making for a feel good modern-day boogie tune guaranteed to lift the spirits.

Next up we have the aptly named Funky Fever which treads a similar path with big horn parts rubbing up alongside Moog synth lines and punctuated with 80’s tom fills and a rock solid rhythm guitar riff. The real star of the show is the vocal which is unashamedly raw and unpolished giving an authentic and endearing hook to the track.

French producer Yuksek is someone whose productions we’ve been loving for some time and really happy to finally have him onboard for a remix for what we feel is the perfect project for him. Like Alma Negra, Yuksek is another talent who is difficult to pigeonhole and enjoys mashing up genres and incorporating many outernational influences into his sound. On his remix of Madrugada he keeps many of the live parts intact but generally ‘houses’ up the drums and mix which increases the energy without losing the overall vibe of the original.

Closing out the EP we have Alma Negra’s own Dub Mix of Madrugaga which goes for a classic dub approach; pairing back the parts, muting the vocals and creating space for the groove to shine, all making for a perfect track to warm up the dance floor early doors. More

Lex makes a welcome return to Delusions Of Grandeur with a brilliant follow up to last years 7 Day Path EP. The Athenian producer, DJ and former record shop owner has been honing his unique sound for the last 7 or 8 years resulting in releases for labels such as Leng, Samosa, King Street, Black Riot and B2. His densely layered textures incorporating lots of live elements and expansive Ron Trent inspired arrangements bring a warm, musical flavour to his productions but without ever losing sight of the dance floor. Without You sets the tone with touches of acid melting into sun-drenched strings and Rhodes making for an atmospheric tune tailor-made for daytime beach sets and late night dancing under the stars. Both hypnotic and trippy in equal measures, this is the kind of versatile track that will make a big impression and put you under its summery spell. Next up we have Strip Town which features some brilliant live bass bringing a jazz-funk swagger whilst the tasty synth chords ensure maximum deepness. Flipping over we have a percussive roller going by the name Purity which features the spoken word of Guto Fernandez and sees Lex joining up with regular collaborator Locke. Closing out this special EP Dennis Liber joins the party injecting pure energy with the help of a serotonin-boosting classic piano house riff and old school house beats More

This June Session Victim return to Jimpster's ' Delusions Of Grandeur' imprint with a third studio album. 'Listen To Your Heart' is the result of a year of cross-continental scripting, started in their Hamburg studio and wrapped up stateside in San Francisco's Room G Studios where the duo had worked on their 2014 LP 'See you When You Get There'. Sampling still remains an ever present backbone throughout the album. Session Victim have dug deep for sounds, resulting in a richly detailed and organic sound collage that goes hand-in-hand with their live instrumentation, this time enhanced through several guest musician appearances, most notably Carsten "Erobique" Meyer (ex-International Pony). Smooth guitar samples are built up on 'Over and Over' while on 'Moons & Flowers' the live instrumentals that Session Victim do so well come to the fore. The treasure trove of San Francisco's record shops proved to be a hard bait to resist and the pair spent a large part of their Californian time hunting for records to sample. Three new tracks emerged from these digging sessions, with the sweeping disco string arrangements on 'Shadows' standing out as a prime ode to days spent combing through bargain bins. Listen To Your Heart is equally a product of the road. While heavy touring is often cited as a hindrance to the creativity of artists, Session Victim see their live shows as a catalyst to their creativity. Two US tours in 2016 gave the Hamburg duo the opportunity to take track sketches and fragments on the road to incorporate into their live shows and then digest them back in the studio. The playful funk soaked groove of 'Matching Half' captures the sense of movement present throughout Listen To Your Heart and the LP mix of 'Up To Rise', which caused heavy ripples when it dropped as part of 2016's Matching Half EP is an extension of the upbeat and euphoric groove that permeates the album. More

Underground house and disco maestro Mark E makes a welcome return to Delusions following hot on the heels of last years Leaning Into The Light EP. The revered producer has been steadily doing his thing for almost two decades now, racking up releases on Running Back, Golf Channel and Spectral Sound to name just a few. His sound is a unique, sublime vision of US deep house which transcends the dance floor and he proves his salt once again on the four new tracks that make up this stunning EP. Title track Enchantment Under The Sea sets the mood with a minimal, low slung drum machine groove laying the foundation for layers of Rhodes and synth chords conjuring up images of a sub-aquatic vision of depth and beauty. Up next we have Zone Tonight, the epitome of a late night city scape driving track utilising heavily saturated drums, subtle acid line, distant piano melody and moody Detroit pads to draw you into its deep confines. Flipping over we have Vertigo which treads a similar sonic path as Mark effortlessly fuses rich harmonies and entrancing melodies, inviting listeners to lose themselves in its depths. Closing out this blissful journey we have Bodymap which drops the BPM a little more with simple understated drums, melancholic string line and pulsating bassline. The Zone Tonight EP is a testament to Mark E's unparalleled prowess in crafting immersive, uncompromising and emotive soundscapes for your aural pleasure. He also created the original artwork for this release. More

Keita Sano is a prolific Japanese producer who has released on revered labels such as Mister Saturday Night, Lets Play House, Morris Audio and 1080P. His fusion of dark, distorted, acidic textures and crunchy disco beats gives his produc tions a unique sound which works perfectly for Delusions Of Grandeur and the label is proud to welcome him for his debut DOG EP entitled Love Is Emotion. The title track comes on like a proverbial runaway train with heavy, pounding beats and bassline forging things ahead while the most twisted, tripped out FX rise and fall creating an absolute juggernaut of a track which takes no prisoners. A decept ively simple DJ tool which is loaded with drama for maximum impact on the more left of centre dance floors. Up next we have Violet which takes a low-slung deep house approach but with the grit and dirt that Keita always brings to the party. The first half of the track teases with tension-building chords and syncopated bassline which bounces around a massive four on the floor kick drum. Things fall away in the middle of the track to reveal a beautiful, heartwarming piano part, setting the scene before things get truly epic with orchestral strings bringing a touch of the film noir to proceedings. I’m A Man picks up the pace again for an intense acid work out which pushes the sonic boundaries to the limits with seriously warped FX creating mayhem around a simple, percussive disco groove. As secret weapon DJ tools go, this is right up there. Closing out this mind-bending release Keita remains in experimental mode on Love Is Emotion offsetting melodic arpeggios and sweet chords with off-kilter sonic madness ensuring things remain dark, dirty and deep. More

Jimpster makes a welcome return to Delusions, donning his Franc Spangler cap and serving up three funked-up, disco-infused tracks to get down to. Opening up the release we have party starter Fight The Feeling which sees Spangler work up a rolling groove laced with dubby percussion, horn solos and souring lead synth. Powerslide goes full retro with clav and guitar chops, hammond slides and an irresistible bassline bringing the funk, making for a high energy club cut to nice up the dance floor. Closing out the release we have the deeper, lo-slung bounce of Dance The Funk which comes complete with Prelude-inspired synth stabs, heavy Moog bassline and crunchy house drums. More

The boys from the ‘Borough are back! It’s been almost ten years since 6BP were last on Delusions Of Grandeur so we’re stoked to welcome them back with a killer 3 track EP which sees them on fine form and with their classic sound mixing up crunchy disco drums, warm analogue synths and punchy bass lines to make you move. Opening track Rhythm sets the pace with a loopy, uptempo filter house track which takes you straight to the dance floor. Reminding us of that classic DJ Q sound of the late 90’s the fellow Scotsmen let things roll, the one bar re peating bass sample hooking you in whilst dubbed out FX add a trippy touch. Next up things go nice and deep on Truth with a repeating piano sample tak ing centre stage whilst trademark 6BP vocals filter in and out of the mix. Later on we’re treated to some classic Philly strings which lift the track, adding a euphoric element to this pensive yet uplifting little groover. Rounding off the EP things go deeper still on Keep On, a subtle, mid tempo house chugger which will set the tone perfectly in any warm up set worth its salt whilst maintaining that distinctive warm and musical 6th Borough flavour we know and love. More

Time to welcome Session Victim back to Delusions Of Grandeur following some heavyweight releases on Toytonics and Rhythm Section International. The German duo show absolutely no signs of slowing down continuing to impress with their unique sound which combines organic live elements, fat, floor-filling beats and a deep, musical approach. Here on The Intangibles EP we’re treated to three original tracks spanning high energy jazz disco meets techno, soulful uplifting house and downtempo blunted beats. Opener Motivation features spoken word from Ras Stimulant backed by urgent looping Rhodes stabs and an uptempo disco groove. An instant Session Victim dance-floor shaker if ever there was one, the energy cranked up to the maximum without losing sight of that all important groove. Next up we have Dromedary Twist which keeps up the pace but goes deeper on the jazzy organ chords and lays down a heavy syncopated bass- line which ensures the funk factor remains present and correct. Rounding out the EP in fine style, Green Run drops the BPM’s as we head into lazy, hazy, blissed-out jazzed-up beats territory. Lush strings and layers of analogue synths come together on this simple yet enchanting little tune which compliments the other tracks perfectly and will appeal to fans of SV’s more home-listening output from their 2020 LP Needledrop. More

We’ve been loving underground UK house hero Mark E for time so it’s a great pleasure to welcome him to Delusions Of Grandeur for his debut release for the label. With killer edits and sublime releases on esteemed labels such as Running Back, Golf Channel, Ghostly/Spectral and his own MERC, Mark E has crafted a distinct and original sound that is uniquely blue collar and utilitarian classic, deep house, with a tinge of disco warmth. The Leaning Into The Light EP has more an LP feel and is definitely one for the heads, taking us on a deep trip across five stunning and expansive productions which will leave you well and truly spellbound. From the opener Swimming Through A Diamond with its raw and minimal groove, glacial FM electric Piano and naive synth melodies you know you’re in for a real deep treat with what’s to come. Compact Object treads a similarly subtle yet captivating path with a stripped back groove and entrancing synth pads and stabs which intertwine and bounce off of each other like light refracting through a prism. Heartaches loops up a live electric bassline and jazzy piano chords to brilliant effect, creating a blissed out mood and feeling of being suspended in the air, at once muted, otherworldly and contemplative. The title track follows taking us deeper still with majestic chords and a tone palette which calls to mind Larry Heard and the inimitable sounds of Black Dog, B12 and the golden era of ambient techno and IDM. Closing out this incredible collection of tracks we have Mirrored Cube, another example of Mark E’s mastery of his craft, everything sitting perfectly in its own space and perfect pace rewarding you with its simple beauty. Mark E also created the original artwork for this release. More

We’re stoked to welcome back Medlar to Delusions for his third EP on the label and you’re in for a proper treat! One of the unsung heroes of UK underground house music, Medlar has released on Wolf Music, Wah Wah 45’s and West Friends. His remixes and edits for the likes of West End, Kon, Dele Sosimi, Glenn Astro, Disclosure and Billy Cobham always hit the spot with an authentic, raw and crunchy sound that work magic on the dance floor. Here on his Interruptor EP we have 4 tracks which show off his range as a producer, taking in percussive tools, deep and dusty basement jams and blissful late night atmospherics. Lead track Interruptor is deceptively simple but devastating on a big system. Chopped up percussion, speaker wobbling bass and a heavy kick lay the foundation for crazy timbales and filtering syn-toms, all topped off with a familiar sample from back in the rave days. Next up we have I Wish which features Kim Anh who delivers a brilliant vocal complimenting the low-slung disco drums, 808 percussion and fat bassline perfectly. This is our idea of what a modern day house hit should sound like. Raw and unpolished with a loose, un-quantized groove so you can feel the funk and a dynamic arrangement which keeps the energy high throughout. Flipping over we have Cable Street which cranks things up with a techy house jam perfect for more peaks time sets. Once again, Medlar knows ex- actly how to make more with less and keeps the shuffling drums stripped back and simple stabs and modulating FX front and centre for maximum im- pact. Finally, Turn Things Around brings a more 90’s deep NYC feel to the EP with floating pads, bouncing bassline, piano stabs and organ riff. Subtley epic and grandiose without being showy, this is a slow-burner that could just be one of those B2 tracks which become your favourite of the release. More

Brothers Gerardo and Emanuel Cedillo aka Soul Of Hex are making serious waves right now. Born and raised in Mexico’s infamous border city Tijuana the duo have been immersed in the underground house and techno scene DJing, promoting events, performing live sets on their trusty Elektron hard- ware and releasing underground floor fillers for labels such as Quintessen- tials, Secret Crunch, CVMR and Dirt Crew as well as running their own Vicario imprint. Most recently, they have not only established a new venue Marko Disco in TJ, but also a new moniker Mano De Fuego and release dropping in April on Underground Resistance no less! Here on the Mystic EP we find a little bit of that UR electro inspiration rubbing up against classic late 80’s US vocal house, crunchy disco grooves and driving Italo. Love Is In Control features the vocals of Steve Lucas of Fusion Groove Orchestra/If Only I Could fame and elsewhere we have vocal features from More Lotion and Temporal Wangan. In theory, this could be a miss mash of pastiche ideas but in the hands of Soul Of Hex the authenticity shines through and we’re presented with a brilliant 4 track EP which will appeal to electronic music fans and DJ’s across the board. SOH delivering the good stuff once again! More

Lex first grabbed our attention following his brilliant release on B2 Recordings which became a staple vibe setter in Jimpster’s DJ sets and Sofa Sessions streams in 2021. Gaining his deep musical knowledge through his own revered record store Radical Soundz, the Greek DJ and producer has been immersed in dance music for over 20 years and considered one of the key figures in the Athens underground house scene. With releases and remixes on labels such as Leng, Samosa, King Street and Black Riot, Lex is making waves internationally with a unique sound that fuses live elements and expansive arrangements taking influence from masters such as Ron Trent but adding a warm, cosmic glow. Fellow Greek artist Locke joins pro- ceedings for this EP bringing his own psychedelic sound garnered from his years playing crazy events taking in South American jungle parties, burning hot African desert raves, the underground clubs of Berlin to the sparkling coastal shores of Baja California. Locke is more than just a DJ. He is a connector, educator and traveler whose soulful music has the crowds chasing the sun as he brings love and celebra- tion to the events he plays. On title track 7 Day Path we’re treated to a beautiful spacious jam which unfolds across 7 minutes, driving, live percussion keeping the energy high whilst Herbie- esque synth leads help to create a beautifully paced and dynamic arrangement. Next up we have Italian legend DJ Rocca onboard for a remix of 7 Day Path. The prolific producer and DJ has been a tour de force since the late 90’s collaborating with the likes of Howie B, Dimitri From Paris, Chris Coco, Daniele Baldelli and Jazzanova producing singles, remixes and albums for labels such as Sonar Kollekt- iv, Compost, Classic, Rekids, Futureboogie, !K7, Tirk, International Feel, Defected, Rotters Golf Club and Faze Action Recordings. Here he adds his trademark dubby disco wiggle pushing the original in a jazzy direction with live flute. Definitely one to be heard under the stars on a Croatian beach for maximum Adriatica effect! Flipping over, things head deeper and darker with See No Ball featuring Locomot- ives, a more straight-up heads-down stripped back club jam with a repeated vocal, funky guitar chops and a smattering of improvised synth and Hammond B3 keeping things jazzy and musical. Closing out this brilliant EP we have Catch Up With The Sun which drops the BPM’s for a low-slung cosmic jam loaded with good vibes. More

Session Victim have become something of a phenomenon since their inception a little over 12 years ago. They bring a sense of fun and unrivalled energy to their live shows and DJ sets which instantly connects with any crowd in front of them and their charming disregard for musical boundaries ensures that you never know quite what to expect or where they’re heading next. When not feeding their addiction to pinball machines, the duo of Hauke Freer and Matthias Reiling are constantly creating, keeping things fresh by forming labels such as Retreat run by Hauke and Quarion, Pen & Paper run by the duo themselves and Hauke’s new baby Save The Books. Last year’s Needledrop LP for Night Time Stories saw them step away from the dance floor and head into deep, downtempo mode to great effect, and now we’re proud to welcome Session Victim back to Delusions Of Grandeur for the release of Two Crowns which sees them edging back towards clubbier sounds, albeit with their trademark live instrumentation and highly musical approach. The EP gives us three original tracks which move smoothly from the low-slung funky wobble of the title track with it’s stabbing analogue synths and house not house live drum groove, through to the lush, expansive sounds of Village Youth. Once again, Session Victim have created a collection of tracks which give us a sense of nostalgia for early 90’s Fila Brazilia/Solid Doctor records on the influential Porky label. A world where trippy spoken word samples, cut up breakbeats, deep pads and sine wave basslines live in perfect harmony and a sense of optimism flows through every note. Let’s face it, we can all do with some of that right now! More