Futureboogie open their 2017 account with a new release from Lizards, the Newcastle based duo otherwise known as Lee Forster and James Hadfield. After appearances on labels like Leng Records, Join Our Club and Not An Animal Records, Lizards strut their stuff across two original tracks, whilst man of the moment Lord Of the Isles weighs in with a superb remix. The percussion driven house of “Tzatziki” kicks of the release, wrapped in warm and inviting pads and piano riffs. Shades of old school Chicago house meet sun-kissed Balearic vibes on this early morning riser, as the heavyweight bass sounds curl around the raw drum programming and illuminating keys sprinkle over the production. On “Aloof”, the tempo is taken down somewhat, as a bass line wanders over a steady kick and otherworldly ambient sounds and hushed vocal clips lazily glide over the 4/4 arrangement. As the track unfurls, more melodic and percussive elements come into play, blossoming into a something quite epic and unique. With a slew of releases for quality imprints like Permanent Vacation, Firecracker, Mule Musiq and ESP Institute, Neil McDonald, AKA Lord Of The Isles, serves up a deliciously chugging version of “Aloof”. Gurgling bass and marching handclaps are dowsed in dramatic synth sweeps and glacial tones, as the good Lord takes us on a monumental ride. More

Disseminating impeccable groove through his first input on NAA, Japan's Que Sakamoto tears things up in a sumptuous fashion on NAA14. 'Uchuu Hikoushi' floats along the darker side of the Adriatic coastline with a bouncy plucked bass, shuffling drums and a mystical pad that becomes reminiscent of a wave softly hitting the shore. Apiento's remix brings the A to close with a minimalistic bare bones approach that takes us to another island. Broken-beat drums slither towards dusk, but the atmosphere remains with delicate bleeps and low-end sub vibrations. 'Kamakura' jets straight off into the horizon with some precise Miami Vice speedboat swagger. Polished Jazzy tones bend alongside tender Rhodes and guitar chords, adding the extra hydro-force to keep this track as chic as possible. Quickly picked up after some serious attention, Vyvyan's remix closes the EP with a venomous bass that is the clear driving force. Additional 303s cling to stems for that extra bit of squelch. More

Fluidly hurtling in hot after NAA012, the newborn and MODXI, brings a refreshing ambience to Not An Animal Records with a deluxe, tasteful and elegant new release. MODXI is Sam Watts, who, with the help of his improvisational jazz saxophonist father, Trevor Watts and talented electronic producer Thomas Gandey, bring the new beat, Amalgam. The end result? A wondrous 11-minute shuffle that offloads some pure emotive action. Choosing to cruise hood down, Dark-Wave-esk drums skid towards a persistent synth wobble and transmogrify into a sentimental masterpiece. Striking piano chords stretch to the foreground and Trevor's breathtaking sax complete the succulent harmonies, adding some serious psychotropic seasoning. On the B, experienced moonwalker Roman Flugel rattles the original into a nostalgic Techno bruiser - Toxic, pernicious, and seriously alluring. It winds up and down, weaves in and out, and in signature Flugel fashion adds more psychedelic edge. Whistling synth shots and a growling chunky bass are added to the captivating atmosphere, just before fully kicking off with destructive arpeggiation in the second half. Ouch! To close, the ever so mysterious Frank Butters returns for some explosive remix material, this time coming through with a deadly Electro heater. Watt's saxophone scorches through the high end alongside a howling bass-line undertone, taking this track someplace else. Stylish Vocoder & synthesiser licks add the finishing touches to this stomper. More

Ess O Ess (aka Chris Stoker and Jamie Blanco) return to Not An Animal to further indulge in the organic house territories previously mined for the previous releases. The duo have an uncanny nack for deftly balancing the rockier end of Disco with the authenticity of early house, and never more so than on "Secret Place. The original bounces and struts in a pleasingly groove laden hypnotic fashion, while the dub version turns down the guitars and turns up the synthesisers for a more heads-down dance floor excursion. On remix detail Kuniyuki Takahashi makes his 1st appearance on the label. On the vinyl you'll find an interpretation which can be best be described as pitched-down balearic-techno, which clicks, clacks and folds upon itself, drowning in waves of reverbed drama-drums at a deceptively low tempo. Kuniyuki also provides a second remix as a digital exclusive, mildly pulling back on the pomp of the vinyl version, but replacing it with a spacious pathos, complete with backwards guitars that reminiscent of an electronic within without you era Beatles. Angaphora make their NAAR debut with their own wildly stirring remix of the lead track, which evokes the golden era of 80s melodic pop music to bewildering success, laden with digitised emotion, singing ebow guitar, and not a kick drum in site. More

New to the NAAR stable, In:State & Giuli make their debut in stunning style.Visitoz is a straight forward techno affair, as bumping as it is surprising. Using a deceptively simple gated arp and horn to dazzlingly complex effect. The track is potentially the most peak time NAAR has gone yet, and it's an incredibly welcome addition to their canon. On remix duty Lauer takes a hold of the main arpeggio and turns it monstrous in the style of Liasions Dangeruese, yet balances this with his trademark lightness of touch and his ear for a heart wrenching synth line, creating an instant classic that feels like it was beamed straight in from 1986. "Plus 1" has been sent from a parallel dimension where the evolution of music took a turn so different that Proto Garage stands where Proto House should be. The track has the step and swagger of the most compelling end of the 2 step movement, but balances that with the surprising naivete and earnestness found in Italo, EBM and early forays from Chicago. Finishing things off, Lizards return to the label for a welcome encore following last years success with their 1st release,Tanni.
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Not An Animal Records are proud to announce the debut of Man Power (aka Geoff Kirkwood)'s "Tropical Bastard0.95project.After 1st releasing as MAN POWER for the labels the very 1st outing Kirkwood now presents us with another first, the birth of another persona to feed his burgeoning identity crisis.Tropical Bastard 0.9510.95 finally sees Kirkwood fully submit to his cinematic leanings, with a panoramic, Italo tinged track that gives rise to a new unbridled optimism in his work whilst Tropical Bastard, 0.9520.95 gives license to his playful almost joyful side, something which he has as yet only hinted at.For the remixes, Lord Of The Isles dials down the melodrama of 0.9510.95 and amps up the groove, for a driving piece of Soca tinged techno as Frank Butters (Too Many Squares) turns 0.9520.95 inside out creating a night drive from the originals day tripper.Stay tuned for Tropical Bastard 3 & 4 on Not An Animal Records
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For his first outing on NAAR, Eric Duncan presents us with Shut it, a full bore Techno-Disco Work out, complimented by an altogether more Cosmic yet Tribal remix from living legend Daniel Baldelli, alongside production partner Marco Dionig. On the B side you will find Zona De Perigo, which is a compelling mongrel affair showcasing a Drug Chug rhythm with a New Age feel, and melodies that border on the Anatolian, before breaking in to a satisfyingly arpeggiated conclusion.
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"Ess O Ess are back home on Not An Animal, with a track that both continues and develops their recognisable motif. Flamingoes and Wombles and The Blue Oyster cult is as maniacal as the name may suggest, Swamp Rock, Cosmic Disco, Techno and shamanistic vocals all play a part in a pleasingly out there confluence of styles that drives, spits and builds to an unhinged, but cohesive, finale." More