Jim Coles’s fifth instalment of his best-selling ‘Acid Dub Studies’ series arrives in the form of the third set of original works exploring the infectious sound of the 303 bass-line in a dubwise setting. The album takes in traditional dub mixing approaches in a digital and roots/digi-dub style whilst also making space for more electronic and ambient processes to close the project.
Parade Ground march back to Dark Entries with ‘The Hidden Side’, a compilation of B-sides and unreleased material. Brothers Jean-Marc and Pierre Pauly started Parade Ground in Brussels in 1981. Their Dada-laced brand of post-punk fuses propulsive drum machines and icy synths with skeletal guitar riffs and Jean-Marc’s distinct and powerful voice, pioneering the subgenre of emotional body music. In 2011, Dark Entries released ‘The Golden Years’, a compilation chronicling the band’s A-sides and exposing them to a new generation of EBM enthusiasts. ‘The Hidden Side’ continues this mission, illuminating lesser-known facets of the band’s oeuvre. The tracks here were written between 1982 and 1989, and showcase Parade Ground’s range of styles – all cold, dark, and brooding.
Clear Memory welcomes back En Direct. After their appearance on CLEAR001 and the two EP’s on the sister label Lunatic. With ‘The Illusion Of Control’, En Direct release their first Album. A long player diving deep into the realms of the human mind and its abyss. Exploring insecurities, uproar and mania with Industrial studies and EBM, rounding it off with bittersweet Minimal Wave and Electro for the sleepless.
Mannequin Records present the upcoming release of Chromium Industries, a double LP (MNQ 162) capturing the innovative spirit of two pioneers of electronic music: Andrew Lagowski and Paul (Howie D) Howard. This long-anticipated album marks a return to the seminal sounds of the Chromium Industries label, which emerged as a crucial platform for boundary-pushing techno and electronic music in the 1990s. Chromium Industries 2xLP is more than an album; it’s a legacy preserved and reimagined. The double LP transports listeners to an era when electronic music was in full experimental bloom while showcasing the genre’s continual evolution.
Rich Jones is the man behind Operator and he’s been making increasingly potent waves with his own label Gnosis Records as well as outings on Singular Records. This outing on Munich’s Ilian Tape is a great example of his sound: ‘Mall To Beach ’80’ is vamping chords and hammering hits over hunched up drums, ‘Deliberate’ cuts more loose but is still a brilliantly loopy workout and ‘Wanderer’ brings thrilling, high-speed tech that skates on daddy drums and is wired up with electricity. ‘Sector Seven’ shuts down with more airy and floating rhythms.
Label owner Fabrizio Lapiana returns on Attic Music with ”Ritmo Ossessivo”, a three tracks techno EP that showcases again his mesmerising sound.
Forbidden Dance Records presents its 10th vinyl release: “Various Shades Vol. 1” – a milestone that encapsulates the label’s commitment to diverse and innovative dance music. This V.A. EP features a carefully curated lineup of artists, blending renowned names with emerging talents: Patrice Scott, Aleqs Notal, XDB and Gary Superfly. The release offers a genre-spanning journey, with each track contributing to a rich and colorful exploration of sound that defines the label’s ethos.
Kim Rapatti, aka Mono Junk, is a key figure in Finnish techno, known for his deep, hardware-driven sound. A firm believer in analogue synthesis, he has been shaping raw and hypnotic club tracks since the early ’90s, drawing inspiration from Detroit pioneers like Derrick May and Juan Atkins.
Marcellus Pittmann’s deep and unique house cuts are on his Unirhythm label. Faze out reminds us of those classic early Unirhythms with the robotic rhythms.
To Celebrate its 60th release, Syncrophone presents ‘The Syncrophone Remixes Vol. 1’ by Rolando. Featuring electrifying reworks of Derrick Thompson, Zadig, and Malvito, this collection brings a powerful, Detroit-inspired sound that echoes the future of techno.
Another early standout release from Speedy J’s vast catalog. The follow up for the ‘Rise EP’, also originally released on Plus 8 Records in 1991, with the apt named title track ‘Evolution’. Jochem’s style of producing music was evolving while still influenced by all the music arriving in the Rotterdam import record stores.
Raymond D. Barre with his second album ‘Dans l’Œil Du Biset’ for Nocta Numerica.
For our ninth release, Gamine label presents Konerytmi with a 5 tracker EP, CMYK a dedication to the 80’s. This is not a just simple tribute but own interpretation of the tastes of 80’s generation. All tracks are homage to the musical fashion of those years. Timbres & drum sounds & melodies & harmonies takes you back to those times.
Orior’s first release introduces Marlon Lopez with a record that boldly explores the boundaries of time and genre. This debut EP is as uncompromising as it is unique. Crafted in near isolation amidst the forest, Marlon’s work is untouched by the usual club influences, offering a refreshing, introspective take on new wave and 80s-inspired EBM. Featuring live bass, 70’s synths, and guitars, the tracks exude an uplifting energy – capturing the raw spirit of punk while steering clear of darkness. Orior (Latin for “I rise”) is the brainchild of LVCA. Born from a journey of resilience and creativity, Orior reflects a commitment to artistic individuality and is a celebration of rising through challenges with limitless vision.
Mannequin Records presents Chromium – Something in the Air (The Hacker Club Mix), a thrilling reinterpretation by legendary French producer The Hacker. Originally composed by Chromium in the early ‘90s, this track is part of the Chromium Industries (1991-1992) collection—an essential archive of forward-thinking electronic music, bridging proto-techno, industrial, and EBM. With his signature touch, The Hacker injects a darkly hypnotic energy into “Something in the Air”, transforming it into a peak-time club weapon, while staying true to the spirit of the original.
“No Fear” is the first of two highly anticipated new EP’s from Days of Sorrow. Featuring the hauntingly beautiful single “Tears”, this release encapsulates the band’s signature blend of post-punk and dark wave, full of raw emotion and atmospheric soundscapes that defined their 80s legacy. “No Fear “also includes a revamped version of the classic 1984 track “War”, creating a new and modern perspective to the timeless anthem. Completing the EP are two more compelling tracks: “No Fear”, a title track that pushes boundaries with its hypnotic beats and capturing melodies, and “Moral Vertigo”, a brooding exploration of inner conflict that resonates deeply with today’s tumultuous world.“No Fear” delivers a sonic experience that is both a tribute to Days of Sorrow’s past and a bold leap into the future.
These are “Demo” tracks from the album “Anadolu Funk”. Reflecting the rich musical heritage of Anatolia, this track combines traditional melodies with contemporary funk rhythms, and the use of traditional instruments such as the bağlama, lively bass lines, and farfisa organ riffs, creating a unique fusion with a modern sound. This tracks again captures that nostalgic atmosphere by using instruments and recording techniques reminiscent of that period. Instruments such as Fender Jazz Bass, Ludwig Super Classic Drums are included.
Rich in melody and instantly classic in feel, Luca dell’Orso debuts on CWPT with a mini-album of lush Italo, sensitively summoned from the Netherlands. Having impressed with previous releases on labels including Bordello A Parigi and Red Laser Records, this longer player demonstrates a delicate approach to his studio, flitting between pop songwriting and analog experimentation.
Reissue of the 1983’s classic ‘Messages From The Stars’ by British Electronic Funk outfit, The Rah Band AKA multi-instrumentalist and producer Richard Anthony Hewson. The song has been rediscovered and revered as a cult classic, transcending time and generations. This reissue celebrates The RAH Band’s pioneering sound and the track’s unexpected rise from obscurity to international acclaim, largely thanks to devoted selectors and fans who never let it fade away.
The Hipodrome Of Music 