Part 2 of Khidja's debut LP Transmissions.
5 fresh tracks written & produced by Andrei Rusu and Florentin Tudor
Mastered by maestro Enrico Mercaldi
Artwork by our heros at &Talmor

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The long-awaited debut LP from Romanian duo Khidja is finally coming via Malka Tuti Records.?

The album ‘Transmission’ will be divided into two separate releases - Part 1 & Part 2. ?Part 1, presented here, will be released on June 16th, while Part 2 will be released in the 2nd half of September 2023. ??The album, which contains 10 new tracks from the duo (5 on each part) was written and produced by Khidja over the last several years.?It was mastered by Enrico Mercaldi and distributed world wide by One Eye Witness, with a fresh fresh artwork by Angus Plunkett & Morey Talmor @ &talmor??Part 1 consisted of 5 gems showcasing the diversity in the Romanian duo’s production - from shuffle to slow-mow, through chugging disco-not-disco to 4th world and beyond.

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Khidja continue to develop their tripped out vision with their first full EP for Hivern since 2019's 'Impossible Holiday'. In 'Something In The Water' the Romanian duo presents three new tracks that drift between genres and moods through open minded studio experimentation. "The Future Has Disappeared" and "Back To Vid" rely on contrasting sound palettes and a smart use of the stereo field to build up tension while 'Science of Ghosts' is an expansive number of galactic electro-funk. The 12" features a stripped out mystical remix by Azu Tiwaline while the digital release includes two extra oddball dancefloor cuts. Artwork by cm-dp.

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Limited edition package of HVN039 Khidja - 'Impossible Holiday'. Aufgang B, Lena Willikens and John Talabot rework their favorite tracks of the EP.

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2018 is going to see the bond between Khidja & Malka Tuti strengthen, with the Romanian duo bringing forward their eclectic, cross-genre approach to electronic music in the shape of 2 full releases as well as several remixes tba. "Plot" & "Am I Really Here" are two dance-floor bangers, not hiding behind fashions and hype, the duo is pushing forward on both tracks, each with its own idea and story to tell. This one continues Malka Tuti’s 12” dance series perfectly, with both tracks being pressed on 45rpm and getting each its own side.

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Flore and Rusu met in high school. Growing together through various musical phases, they ended up channeling their love for outlandish dance music into one of the most exciting projects to emerge from the bubbling Eastern Europe underground scene. In their Hivern debut, they keep pushing the boundaries of their sound to forge some of their boldest productions to date. In all four tracks of Impossible Holiday, we find distinctive elements of the Khidja palette recomposed under a new (and darker) light. The 12 inch comes wrapped in a sleeve featuring an oil painting by the Romanian artist Serban Savu and design by Arnau Pi.

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It's fair to say Khijda's debut EP on Especial was one of the highlights of the label to date. Mustafa - in original form and remixed to distraction by Timothy J Fairplay - became the soundtrack for many a Summer party, while Abul was perfect for those deeper late night afters. This time though we present a stand alone 4 track EP of original music so that Khijda's sound can be full explored. Starting with the title cut, the duo aim right for the dance floor, mixing throbbing live bass, guitar and a touch of Eastern mystic vocals that twist and rise higher and higher. This is followed by the deep dub vibes of Aura. Coming on as if the idjut Boys had relocated to Istanbul, the bass rumble and tripped out fx are overlaid with strings, xylophone and even a nice does of (more) cowbell that is full of funk and ass moving swing. On the flip is where things take a warped turn with Indecis. It's incessant rhythm and Eastern flavour, mixed with 80's style cut up vocals, take the sounds championed by Baris K and Acid Arab to new (and bazar) heights. Finally then, the EP comes down with the beautiful 'Balearic' grooves of The Quiet And The Red Stop. With a nod to their roots Khidja again forge their own journey, creating and carving out a sound of their own that is unique and at the same time compelling. Watch the skies.


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Repress!

Especial is delighted to reprise the label’s relationship with Osaka’s acid master, Akio Nagase. Following his debut, Global Acid EP and follow up African Acid EP covered a range of influences, all with the heavy dose of Roland TR-303, here he completes a trilogy of EPs, culminating in a homage to his love of dub reggae.

Having made reggae influenced dance music under the Makedub alias for decades, here he takes it a step further, utilising a knack for catchy hooks and acid lines, while fusing reggae and live desk-dub mixing.

I Love Smoke, a chant, the stand-out, those classic vocals flowing in and out with a 3AM (Eternal) bump. Riotously expounding the virtues of smoking ’Mari Jane’, the hypnotic stoner vibes are wrapped around Nagase’s meditative and dancefloor heartbeat.

Night Time High Acid swings, the low-end rumble and kick build before the TR-303 and harmonica lead interweave, samples and sirens encase in an ethnic, tribal slo-mo dub flow.

Things shift with the 4/4 bump of Creation Dub. A call to rise wrapped in the warmth of Dub House beats. Melody and dub flow, no need for 303. Vox are space echo’d to the limit. Keys stab, horns call, slip side away.

To finish, Harmonica Dub is just that. Heavy mouth organ solo, the blues calling atop a dub-techno stepper beat. Rimshot, stabs, echo. All encompass that psychedelic flavour of Akio. Dub, Love and Respect. Thank you Mr Kikumoto for the acid, thank you Mr Nagase for beats

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The return of Jonne Lydén aka 53X is an exhilarating welcome for [Emotional] Especial with 4 more seismic analogue psychedelic jams that are becoming recognisably a unique and hypnotic statement.

Lydén’s studio time is distillation for personal contemplation and perfection just 3 releases in 5 years that are worth the wait. The heady demand for his debut ‘Synapse’ and the following ‘Zen ‘23’ on Especial (limited repress incoming!) show constant development a sound of widescreen technoscope where dub beats trance pyrotechnics and 303 mind-melt swirling in a cosmic matter.

His return takes this further his music heritage in Finland’s hardcore punk scene to finding the techno of Detroit and Berlin before submerging in synths and drum programming jamming recording and mixing these trip-out electronic journeys live.

This heavy 4/4 jack is apparent on opening Sanctuary. Like his recent outings ‘Radar’ found on the Especial 50th “sampler” release ‘Gracias Especial’ (EES050) and also ‘Simulaato’ hidden away on blink and you miss it cult label Avidya (AVI003) this is a pure undiluted bang. Straight forward heavy bass kicking charged with acid 303 and monotonic vocal insights the track is a flourishing temple a call of embrace.

The eponymous Cyan Haze showcases 53X’s cinematic finest panoramic audio and sound design creating expansive phonics. BPMs drop samples flourish around break drops and rolling bass – breathing looping shouting lifting.

Owls enlightens. Hardware rumbles cerebral a temporal universe awakening. The collage of found sound successive sequential all encased by hypnotic broken chords rolling bass and melancholic piano refrain. Meta worming braindance ecstatic tribal industrial gliding by Shiva into the night.

Dust closes apt its basement collage pounds Lydén to techno genesis. Proto-zeitgeist steppa dark room incantation pulling and expanding the fantasy to strange dreamscapes. Reincarnation and hope in 2026.

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After another acid-tinged EP to hit clubs from Akio Nagase, Especial travels back across the globe, unearthing and presenting Jonne Lydén aka 53X with bass heavy, widescreen, trance zeitgeist steppas for the future.

Born and raised in southern Finland, his musical journey started in his early teenage years as a singer in a hardcore punk band. An interest in making music independently flourished and he progressed to making his own tracks. After a mind expanding, exploratory visit to Berlin, Jonne got submerged in techno and started buying synths and drum machines. His first EP was released under the alias J. Lydén. Appearing on Marko Laine’s experimental label Mind Records and fellow Finnish label black. Records. Showcasing Detroit and industrial scale techno that were aimed squarely at main room Berghain.

Exhilarating, fully charged, his musical journey continued however, slowing the tempo but keeping the breadth, while exploring psychedelics, Lydén began to develop his interest in trance, evolving from hypnotic techno toward slower and trippier style.

Live jamming and sketching with hardware synths and drum machines play a major role. The analogue jack of Solitude opens with throbbing acid 303 over a heavy 4/4 kick, shouted invocations and psychedelic swirls, the relentless nature of the build rising to a new terrestrial reality. A template of cerebral originality.

Enlightened, Zen ’23 follows, slowing matter – acid, breakbeat, sirens calling, pull you in. The simplicity in the electronic message, looping, the universe pulling and expanding simultaneously in the mind.

Crow Dub keeps the tempo, an ominous 4/4 dub of synthetic modulations, atmospherics transport to some multi-dimensional Anjuna wormhole. Finally, Eagle Flight brings calmer sounds. The debut’s fruition – returning to the source – gliding beyond the Eye of Shiva, flute guides the way back to land.

53X’s genius can be heard in these collages of sound. Hypnotic landscapes of ecstatic rhythms, a “proto-Goa” fantasy of reincarnation and birth for 2023.

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An EP of the darker side of electronic dance music is always a welcome addition to Especial. Up and coming producer / DJ Miles J Paralysis steps away from releasing on his own Crying Outcast label to explore left of centre, new wave and cosmic sounds; songs woven from his own vocals and samples.

A love of Dub, Hip Hop and Electro-Funk led into electronic music. Sampling TV shows, making beats, jamming. Exposed to Leeds and Manchester club cultures, seeking the more experimental. African Head Charge, Muslimgauze, The Rootsman and Weatherall were early influences in forming a no rules philosophy.

Born and raised around West Yorkshire, the beauty and bleakness of the moors have a strong bond on Miles Henry aka Miles J Paralysis and his music. Folklore and the occult link and connect an interest in Northern Hauntology. Unresolved histories, stuck between past glory and phantoms of possible futures.

The EP starts with It’s Only Shadows Talking. A play on the Paralysis persona, the spectral dub house groove meets industrial overtures, encasing his own eerie and unsettling vocals to begin the narrative.

Don’t Forget The Ritual takes a direct link from British folk traditions. Sacred and ceremonial; the laid-back breakbeat, samples and delays are the transition to the evocative embrace of melancholia.

Come On Fleet, the hypnotic Latin (vocal) sample creates a lurking murmuration, rimshot percussion meets gothic sound design for the EPs’ most straight forward and direct club cut.

Surreal and dreamlike soundscape, closing track The Delicate Fairytale is the perfect platform for Miles own phantasm. Inspired by the stories of Dorothy K Haynes and Robert Hickman, the pervading sense of a David Lynch aesthetic, exploring the nostalgic nature of memory.

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Akio Nagase joins Especial with an EP of global acid tracks. Centred around his heritage, Osaka based Nagase infuses his sounds with a mixture of dub and ethno-dance, wrapped in 303 infused mid-tempo 4/4 grooves.

Making music for over 20 years, as well as running his Makedub parties, Nagase has released for Sound Channel, Darker Than Wax and cult Japanese digital label Chillmountain. It is here, on the latter, that the connection was made and his tracks unearthed.

Rearranged, re-edited and remixed especially for vinyl, Jurassic Shanghai Acid starts, fusing sound effects, dialogue and samples atop squelching acid beats. Following is Mongol 303, as Khoomii throat singing and acid vibrations loop and flow across the Altai Mountains down to Steppe Plains - Madrugada Eterna.

Okinawa Yunta crosses the South China Sea to home, perfectly mixing unique folk song from Taketomi Island reconstructed with Nagase's gentle, wiggling acid accompaniment. The incessant repetitive groove an Acid mantra, flowing through consciousness to move mind and body.

The bpm's rise for the close. Saigon Acid mixes tradition and Acid House for fun, a 3AM basement jam where Dan Nhi meets 808 and Nagase presents his ethno-acid love in.

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Especial welcomes the return of Akio Nagase, Osaka's own 303 specialist, with a second EP of acid infused world music. After the success of his Asia orientated EP, here his ethno-inspired dance comes to and from Africa, the mother.

With a history of making reggae influenced electronics under the Makedub alias, his development to acid master continues to showcase a skill at fusing samples, effects and found sound in a dub-desk mix that is body moving and catchy at the same time.

With a mission to bring the music of the world closer, Acid Maasai Collecthiv sets the scene with TB 303 weaving around dub heavy bass, crossing the Athi river, seeking spirits to bind. Countries and continents are tribes and with a reopening world, the dance can encompass all; open minds to bring unity.

This is exemplified on the ethereal Morisyen Acid. Sound design, Mauritian samples and creole vibrate perfectly with Akio's acid work and simple but effective "predominately" repetitive beats to uplift like the Tamarind sunrise.

Acid mantra as mind-gateway continues with Serengeti Summer. An heir to Whoktish, this is Not Reggae, the 808 and 303 in harmony; a jam of man, machine and samples to bring today's ethno-blue storytelling through consciousness.

Closing is Jua, interweaving the fabric of life, passing down from generations the primal with the psychedelic beat to communal gathering, Akio presents the music with love and respect.


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[Emotional] Especial reaches a landmark with its 50th release. Started in 2012 as a “dancier & trippier”, club friendly spin off, sub label to Emotional Response, it has gone on to forge a path, releasing a myriad of artists including the opening release by Jamie Paton (Cage & Aviary / ESP Institute) to Richard Sen (Bronx Dogs), the debut of Khidja (Malka Tuti / DFA) and on to unearthing the breaks masters Alphonse (Klasse Wrecks) and Junior Fairplay (Crimes Of The Future), the uplifting Italo influenced Lauer (Robert Johnson), the new wave anthem of Sfire (featuring Sophie), plus perfect remixes bt Kris Baha (CockTail D’amore) and INHALT (Dark Entries), the NYC pop-rave-vox of Kim Ann Foxman, through to showcasing upcoming artists like Berlin’s Giraffi Dog (Aiwo Recs) and the global acid adventures of Akio Nagase (Chill Mountain) to most recently, the slo-mo trance muscle of 53X and post-rave uplighters of Remotif (Space Lab) and DJ 1985.

As with every 10th release on the label, the label present a various artists “Showcase” of what and where the label is. Aptly it is recent signing 53X who opens Gracias Especial with the bounce of Radar. Finland’s Jonne Lydén debut EP on Especial, Zen ’23 came out of nowhere, more than simply riding a zeitgeist of the “Trance Revival”, his all-live analogue symphonies drop the bpms, presenting widescreen beats, darkroom bass, sirens and tripped out vox all mix to propel a singularly driven.

Taking things much deeper has been the hallmark of Jamie Paton’s remixes for the label. As well as providing the opening EP in 2013, designing every sleeve and producing 20 remixes and counting another 2 for the label here, it’s impossible not to associate Especial with Jamie’s music. First, he reworks rising star DJ, but recent break out producer Chez De Milo, with a trademark dub excursion that takes the ethnic origins of Kremer to a space echo wonderland. Space is the place, the lulling beats, see you falling through the gaps, true dub style.

Alphonse makes a rightful return to Especial, with Raze Rave highlighting the allusive producers’ unique understanding of the varied history of rave culture via a techno-suite of soundscapes, perfectly mixing uplifting breaks, memory inducing vocal samples and dub bass, with a nod to the pop sensibility that rave encompassed, while being that allusive “lost chord” moment of man and machine.

The finale returns to the trance acid expanse of 53X, with the mastery of label stalwart Jamie Paton. An apt marriage, Paton takes the title cut from Lydén’s debut EP and crafts a trademark durge-dub, where TB303 and space echo intertwine with the De Witte vocal, hinting at touches of dub, new wave, trance and acid house all in one melting pot of sound the label optimistically termed “Protoid” back at inception of summer 2013.

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[Emotional] Especial returns to the music of Peter Reilly aka Persian, with a second EP diving into his extensive catalogue to celebrate this cult artist and evaluate his recent decision to retire from music production.

For over 20 years Reilly has been an exemplary electronic producer, a producer’s producer, a DJs producer, releasing over 50 EPs that crossed genres, from Breaks to Digidub, Electro to Garage, House to Jungle and on and on.

If this release is to act as an epitaph, then its exploration of Reilly’s wonderful programming, sampling and understanding of emotions is laid bare. Spread across a series of self-released edits hidden within limited run EPs, Questions appeared as something akin to beats interludes, across numerous releases over the last 10 years.

Bringing the best versions together on one EP, Questions 1, 2, 5, 3 and 7 have been re-edited, extended and sequenced into a continuous mix especially for this finale. Starting with the ambient breaks of Questions 1, this is a Balearic beginning where bubbling acid meets haunting refrain, before segueing effortlessly into the sunrise breaks of Questions 2. A nod to Carl Craig’s classic Incognito remix, the solo keys add a touch of jazz to a glide by shooting melody.

Side 2 rises. Question 5 heralds a half stepper Dub bassline riding the Amen breaks, the now familiar Brando sample, a wormhole in your brain that ties the EP together, joining the dots as strings float skywards, allowing Questions 3 break it all back down. Herbie Handcock inspired Funk Boogie beat, shouts out to his own Existence To Resistance label, leads to the pure ambient closing of Questions 7. A showcase again of Persian’s multi-genre dexterity and maybe, just maybe brings an influential music chapter to a close.

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(Emotional) Especial looks to the emergent producer that is Chez De Milo for a new EP that collides the energy of Glastonbury, historic echoes of the free party scene and the psychedelic electronics of Bristol and the West Country into four fresh new cuts here. 'Et Al' is a mystic late-night house cut with crisp hits and spooky synths keeping you on edge, while 'Gieser' is dark and paranoid as the churning beats and snaking leads tempt you into the shadows. 'Kremer' keeps you locked in a synth-heavy and transcendental suspense at the heart of the dancefloor with Egyptian folk samples and ethnic grooves and 'Thus One' is a razor-sharp electro closer.

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Especial is a label always on a mission to unearth left-of-centre perspectives on club music. This new EP, Be Honest, is just that from long-time friends Lipelis and Arsenii, who are based in Belgrade and New York but seek inspiration in the New York sounds of the 80s and hook up with Gayana for some woozy and lovelorn vocal additions. 'Be Honest' is a dubbed out and swaggering deep disco groove that comes as long, dub and cappella versions on the A-side. The 12" dance mix brings some superb house drums into the picture and the Dubplate VIP is a fresh jungle rhythm. This is an EP with something for all.

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(Emotional) Especial and Giraffi Dog join forces once more to offer up the second installment of their concept EP series. It is focussed on live and studio collaborations and this one comes in two halves: the first half kicks off with '6th Chakra' (feat DJ Deflektorschild) - a fully live deep house and hi-tek soul exploration with mind-expanding synths and Detroit drum sounds. 'King OTN' is a jack dup acid cut ripped with cosmic synth details and 'DX Metero' has sheet metal synths lashing about next to ethereal synths and busted drum breaks. 'Starfather' is a star-facing closer with elegant piano notes dancing over serene grooves. A vital showcase of this essential live artist.

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Frankfurt's celebrated producer, Philip Lauer returns to Especial, this time teaming up with Berlin based vocalist Dena for a special collaboration, covering Julie Stapleton's soulful House classic with a modern interpretation across a number of versions (vinyl and digital).

After the success of the Hotel Lauer EP on Especial way back in 2016, Lauer has continued his ascendency with albums for Permanent Vacation and Running Back, as well as releasing a string of sure-fire, dancefloor friendly EPs for the likes of Cin Cin, Futureboogie and Skatebard's Digitalo Enterprises.

Born and raised in Bulgaria, before making the move the music mecca of Berlin, Denitza Todorova has a carved a path with her electronic, dance pop stylings across releases for the likes of K7 and Kitsune Music. First appearing on Make It Stay from Lauer's last album, it jumped out as the perfect partnership to bring the raw, soulful and uplifting sounds of the cult V4 Visions label up to date. Founded by Alex Palmer, the label was part of the UK's early 90s club sound, releasing street soul, deep house and more, in Where's Your Love Gone, Palmer and 18-year-old writer/vocalist Julie Stapleton hit on the perfect marriage of Lovers Rock and Street Soul yearning with the haunting sounds of US House. Presented as a new take on the classic, but with utmost respect, the EP starts with the Club Mix, a Larry Heard bassline joins a marimba melody, lifting Dena's vocals of youth's lost love and pain. This is followed by the Demo Mix, a warm, beautiful string laden original take that Lauer and the label felt had to be included.

DJ Slyngshot is welcomed to provide a deep, tech remix. A name to watch via his releases on his YAPPIN label and recent EP for Workshop, his remix is an analogue twist of hypnotic, raw dub techno percussion and counter breaks builds as string and piano join. The EP ends in the Synthapella, as bongos, cowbell and whistle are added to create a drifting Balearic version for late summer nights and dawn that highlight Dena's vocals in a 'sunrise' light.

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Ever since the first white labels appeared at the end of Summer 2013, [Emotional] Especial has been putting out music that is slightly left of (club music) centre. Influenced as much by and including dub, electro, disco, proto-house, house and techno, guided more by a feeling than a sound.

This thinking has been that exemplified by every 10th release being a label sampler - a showcase of unreleased tracks or remixes of what has come before, plus the odd one off cut by an artist to watch. Some 4 years since the last Sampler, the label's 40th release presents new label heads Giraffi Dog, returning after their recent "live" Multiverse EPs, here teaming up with GF Rich for a breaks anthem. Sub bass rising, the persistent build leads to piano before drop and Acid mayhem ensues, highlight why G Dog are such a producer to watch.

Label mainstay Alphonse returns, with White Pepper from the "Stolen Sunrise EP", here remixed by House stalwart Toby Tobias. Having released for a who's who of labels including REKIDS, ESP Institute, Delusions Of Grandeur and Futureboogie, the illusion these past years of who is Alphonse can finally revealed as Toby himself. The remix of his alter ego takes the 'Balearics' of the original and adds breaks and 303, all retaining a laid back feeling for summers return.

On the flip, the label welcomes rising star, Remotif. With a series of EPs showcasing a growing talent, his recent Coymix release sealed the deal. Here, his comedically titled Beam Me Up Softwoiii belies a party anthem, where breaks and arps rise in unison before an Aphex sunrise burst, drops and heads down in pure dance.

Akio Nagase returns to close with another of his Japanese folk meets lilting 303 Acid House. An Okinawa traditional folk song, conveying a life lesson, here to Hosenka flower is laid across slo-mo acid bubbles to quirkily and perfectly complete another 10th release of the Especial path.

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Especial presents a 2 EP live concept collaboration with Berlin's Giraffi Dog. With live tours cancelled due the on-going changing world, the idea of bringing their live set to vinyl - an opera for your innerspace, while constrained from outerspace - was born.

Setting up Doom Chakra Tapes with DJ Deflektorschild in 2016, Max Webber's project first released the L'Existence Du Reve cassette album as a blueprint for the Giraffi Dog sound, with some tracks appearing on the acclaimed vinyl debut for Aiwo Recs, before a split 7" for the WARNING label series followed.

Teaming up with friend Max Heesen (Dessous, Poker Flat) to take the project live, their backgrounds in punk and hip-hop shine in their take on breakbeat driven club culture.

Recording live in the studio, as a different state of meditation, MCPs trigger drum machines, the duality of live synth and vocoder, while tape machines, reverb and FX looped, twisted and filtered for an inter-mind festival

Cut as a continuous mix, tracks like Concorida, Jam X and Multiverse, are a manifestation of their sets dropped from small basements in Berlin to fields in the outskirts of Paris, this first EP acts as a hypothesis for the parallel, the other, the alternate, the infinite.

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Especial returns to Alphonse's masterpiece with a 2022 repress of this EP of afro-dub-house to basement breaks, backed by imperious remixes from then rising stars The Pilotwings and DJ Normal 4.

While Alphonse debut techno-breaks-poem Same For Me came with its own soliloquy of life and the transcendental mediations of dance. Head-scratching and indifference ensued as the EP, backed with Junior Fairplay's monstrous-amen remix, slipped by all but the most 'switched on' heads - thanks Zaltan!

Now back, but still keeping to the shadows, with more sound system shaking cuts via the afro leaning Smokey and breaks pump of Glint AM. Smokey is a true heir to a unique British take on House. Congas, bongos, kick, dub bass lines and chants riding twisted fx - a true Warriors Dance.

Next Glint AM takes things back. Skipping hats atop an 808 throb before Detroit inspired strings and Akai vocals await a Mayday bass to lift hands and hearts. This is no pastiche but born of life's love and experience, of misty mornings, standing on beaten up trucks, arms a lot, higher and higher.

Time then to hand remixing duties to rising brothers from other mothers. The Pilotwings retake of Smokey shows a crew at the height of their powers, stripping the beats back to allow time and space to ascend - letting it all float away. Things are closed by - one to watch - DJ Normal 4. An old head at heart, member of Cologne's Aiwo Records and name to check, his deeper take on Glint AM includes a nod to the atmospherics of Biosphere and Leiner while keeping things, always, always, always looking to the future.

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Whitelabel!!
Especial presents a 2 EP live concept collaboration with Berlin's Giraffi Dog. With live tours cancelled due the on-going changing world, the idea of bringing their live set to vinyl - an opera for your innerspace, while constrained from outerspace - was born.

Setting up Doom Chakra Tapes with DJ Deflektorschild in 2016, Max Webber's project first released the L'Existence Du Reve cassette album as a blueprint for the Giraffi Dog sound, with some tracks appearing on the acclaimed vinyl debut for Aiwo Recs, before a split 7" for the WARNING label series followed.

Teaming up with friend Max Heesen (Dessous, Poker Flat) to take the project live, their backgrounds in punk and hip-hop shine in their take on breakbeat driven club culture.

Recording live in the studio, as a different state of meditation, MCPs trigger drum machines, the duality of live synth and vocoder, while tape machines, reverb and FX looped, twisted and filtered for an inter-mind festival

Cut as a continuous mix, tracks like Concorida, Jam X and Multiverse, are a manifestation of their sets dropped from small basements in Berlin to fields in the outskirts of Paris, this first EP acts as a hypothesis for the parallel, the other, the alternate, the infinite.

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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Moscow duo Odopt debut on the label with an EP of discordant, darkroom bangers for the end of days. Following acclaimed releases for Born Free, Discos Capablanca and Hivern. Ivan & Grisha - former residents of the infamous Denis Simachev Bar who glided aboard the Salon des Amateurs, Sameheads, Opium, Golden Pudel, 20:44 caravan with ease - present a 4 tracker of propulsive techno-house chamber music for these modern times.

Starting with A14 their nefarious, sonic industrial funk is on max. Samples reverberate around a dystopian shell, before playful tonalities swirl you higher. As hands to the sky as Odopt will ever witness. There is true beauty in the night.

A dense atmosphere prevails Keylat, it's darker EBM variations jack the master; voices scattering over schematic, metallic melodies before percussion is tamed, fading to a soporiphic realism.

Rolling, squelchy, acid, we embrace Sample Commerce Shot. Bending, growling, dive-bombing limbs and minds, its sleazy pursuit hard to resist as cavernous flashes lung from neo arpeggios to lock you in the groove.

Holy Motor$ the perfect finale. Brooding, virulent, hulking. A monage of momentum, menace, machine music; its haunting nervy bass for the slaughter. Take my hand. Let's walk. Most likely we'll laugh in the next life.

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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Kris Baha had a big year in 2019 with the release of his debut album on CockTail d'Amore and an EP on Pinkman, and now the Australian body music man in Berlin is back with a high-pressure heater for [Emotional] Especial. "Barely Alive" is the kind of sinewy proto-industrial cut that will appeal to fans of Ministry's earlier work, when the synths reigned supreme and there was pop to match the noir. Especial then call on a cast of remixers to interpret the track in different ways, from Timothy J Fairplay amping up the dystopian disco tropes to Das Ding creating a sleek electro-funk twist with the original's gothic undertones intact.

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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Following the success of their ‘Earl’ EP on Switzerland’s Hive Records, Berlin-based House staple Oliver $ reunites with Swiss Jazz House aficionado Jimi Jules to bring their anticipated debut release on Defected. ‘Pushing On’ opens with an infectious percussive medley composed of tropical triangles and melodious 808-like cowbells. With the gradual introduction of the moody, Frankie Knuckles inspired, bass line and tailing piano chords, the track slowly transforms into an energetic homage to classic Chicago House. Quick to take centre stage the track also features dusky vocal samples from Quantic Soul Orchestra, merging effortlessly with the wispy cymbal crashes, the song’s title and central lyrical theme, “Pushing On”, falls and confidently rises to drive the track to its spirited climax. And for those who don’t want the vocals there’s a dub thrown in for good measure. Already household names in their home countries, ‘Pushing On’ is sure set to solidify Oliver $ and Jimi Jules as international House providers.


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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Pushing On’ released in 2014 by Oliver Dollar & Jimi Jules remains a house staple, staying at Beatport’s #1 spot for over four weeks when it was first released, and recently achieving silver certification in the UK. A record house-heads know and love, this special 12” package offers a rare chance to get the cross-over hit on wax. Kicking off on the A-side is the beloved, club-ready original, alongside the stripped-back Dub version, that brings extra focus to the track’s irresistibly deep bassline form start to finish. Opening the B-side, Jesse Rose’s ‘Live From The Villa’ Remix enlists melodic keys and a mellow chill, contributing towards the remix’s Balearic feel. Finally, Tchami comes through with a bouncier, clubbier mix, ready for the dancefloor. TRACK LISTING: A1. Pushing On, A2. Pushing On (Dub), B1. Pushing On (Jesse Rose 'Live From The Villa' Remix), B2 - Pushing On (Tchami Remix)

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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

180g Vinyl! Vital Sales Points: - - Huerta’s fourth record for Amadeus - Collab record with UK born Youandewan
- EP ahead of Youandewan’s debut album on K7

Tracklist
A1. Huerta - Mandala , A2. Huerta - Eistee
B1. Huerta - Apache Line (with Youandewan) , B2. Youandewan - Yo Endlos
Shortinfo:
! Amadeus sees itself yet again graced by the California-gone-Berlin coastal confidant, Stephen Huerta. Preparing his fourth record for the imprint, Huerta sets a mood of what is to be his best record to date. Bringing along fellow expatriate and Berlin-based producer Youandewan (of Secret Sundaze and Aus Music fame) along with him. Aside and forefront club-track, “Mandala,” carries itself through chugging shakers and pad-work, held tightly in place by the squelchy, off-kilter lead. The tune never quite sits still, bubbling about by each percolating percussive layer. Backed by what was jokingly coined the “California Garage Track,” “Eistee” is at best the chiller-fitting you would want. Jacking percussion and complimenting drum
programming give this track It’s toughness. The Bside houses the first collaboration from the two. With the intro’s minimally-structured progression, “Apache Line,” only reaches its incline after the minute mark. Spring delayed and filtered heavily, the track’s wonky lead bleeds through as if to enrapture you in its thermal clutch. Wrapping up the record we’ve asking Youandewan to add the floor-readied “Yo Endlos.” The track is definitively what you would want as a closer; simplicity in its step but tightness throughout its progression.

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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

2025 Black Vinyl Repress!

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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Track Listing
A1. Sgadi Li Mi
A2. Return To Nowhere
B1. Ensemble
B2. What's In The Past
Charlotte de Witte? marks the homecoming to her own imprint ?KNTXT? with her brand new EP ‘?Return to Nowhere?’. The captivating record exists out of four long-awaited tracks called ‘Return to Nowhere, ‘Ensemble’, ‘Sgadi Li Mi’ and ‘What’s In The Past’.

Further exploring her sonic realm, the record features techno sound reminiscent of her ‘Selected’ EP, but switches out the acid stabs for haunting hymns. The result is a gripping dismal soundtrack that feels desolate yet hopeful. With this spellbinding EP which combines her iconic hard-punching techno with mesmerizing chants effortlessly, Charlotte proves once again why she remains at the forefront of the industry.

The release of ‘?Return to Nowhere?’ fits perfectly in these uncertain times. ?Charlotte? says: “I made the EP before the current COVID-19 crisis. After being inspired by recordings of age-old traditional chants. So, I never intended it to be a “Corona record”. However, it did grow on me during this period of isolation.”


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