Building on the outright success of his previous outings for the label, The Hidden Figure return to deliver a cutting edge EP of beautiful acid for Exalt Records. 4 acid tracks in various styles, this EP seems a fitting end to a stellar run for this shadowy and mysterious pseudonym of super producer Paul Cignol.
The Mothership has come! It has arrived in the form of the strictly limited collection box “Upwards at 33 1/3 Degrees” (50 copies), containing all singles released on the label between 2017 and 2020. The Höga Nord – galaxy resounds of all good between strict electro and loose jams, fluffy krautrock and moist world music to underwater techno and space funk. Although, what it is that defines the Höga Nord sound is not genres, instead it is, to cite Mathias Nilsson, founder of and boss for the label, music “strongly connected to fantasy, to the creative world.” The collection is an overview on Gothenburg’s underground music and on an international scene that breathes similar air as the local Swedish acts that Höga Nord Rekords has chosen to highlight.
PT004 sees a Belgium via Morocco friendship and studio collaboration Mameen 3 take the reigns for Planet Trips fourth physical release. A group made up of much loved and respected DJ, digger and curator of the always on point Elsewhere comps soFa, connecting with innovative producer Reda Senhaji aka Cheb Runner, whose refreshing approach tips the no boundaries no borders sound only few can uniquely pull off. The Incunabula EP spotlights 4 club focused jams from the groups recent heavy output, channelling influences from their diverse tastes and effortlessly marrying hypnotic percussion, Middle Eastern rhythms and machine funk psychedelia into their very own style no style.
On PH28RMX, Jordan refreshes the energy of ‘Virtual Lover’ by Nadia Ksaiba with two additions to his already beloved series of Nocturne edits. With an analogue touch, Jordan deftly shifts the casual call of the original into a lean slice of brooding freestyle electro, transforming Ksaiba’s charming vocals into a robotic paen, yearning across a futuristic grid of deeply satisfying bass. ‘Jordan’s Nocturne Dub’ achieves a similar effect driven by a frenetic, chopped-up vocal amid cybernetic flourishes.
Cutting Room disembark on brokntoys for an EP of techno abstractions. Breaking their hiatus after their celebrated Steeplejack debut, ‘The Night Chemist’ follows up on their previous outing – and the beast has evolved. Across 4 tracks the Australian trio, formed by Connor Gibson, Eugene Brockmuller and Cosmo Feltham, distill foreboding atmospheres, crushed mechanical beats and turbulent Ballardian passages. The EP closes with a remix from Spanish legends Esplendor Geometrico demolishing Always Rock.
Dark Entries unveils the debut of Berlin-based, Dutch-born Steffi new project Crushed Soul, a moniker she had used only once in 2013 for an Ostgut Ton compilation track. ‘The Family of Waves EP’ represents both familiar and novel pastures for Steffi. While her love of electro and classic Detroit techno have been oft-evident, here we witness the darker shades of new wave and industrial creep to the forefront. This turn for the twisted feels not just natural, but predestined, an inevitable succumbing to morbid forces.
Iran-born, Los Angeles-based Mesmé casts her first EP with a 5-track tangle of Acidtinged exo-House riddled with contorted IDM atmospherics. Mesmé traps you in a web threaded with warped synth lines, chugging breaks, hefty lows and her own distorted vocal venom. This release will have you caught, instinctively trying to gyrate your body free as the sound descends upon your psyche…
Dona Aka Dj Plant Texture’s debut on Mannequin is the result of an effective true love for the early Chicago Acid and Jackbeat, mixed with textures of EBM and Cold Wave.
“Mindscapes”, featuring the haunted vocals of Aloth, represents a trip into states of consciousness and psychiatric diseases. Ispired by some reports describing America’s Mental health System during the latest 70’s, the EP is a blend of analog machines, forced to create the perfect jam session.
Feel My Bicep steps it onto its next release with the debut of two established acts, linking up for the first time. DeFeKT and Extrawelt combine their formidable talent and years in the game to bring us a two-tracker entitled Field Day.
Chicago veteran Boo Williams presents his latest limited-edition missive. Opener ”Tribulation” is sweet and spacey, with Williams wrapping fizzing, techno-tempo drums and bubbly bass in intergalactic synths sounds and chords so emotive you might start blubbing on the dancefloor. It comes accompanied by a deeper, acid-flecked flipside dub that also boasts some exciting new synth solos (track three) and a slightly slower, but no less energetic or musically positive, bonus cut called ”Mental State”. Predictably, this is every bit as alluring as the EP’s other tracks.
Black Fire was an influential spiritual jazz and conscious soul label that is now the subject of a first ever compilation. It has been put together by Strut and covers the years 1975 to 1993, showcasing a rich mix of jazz, deep African polyrhythms and empowering lyrics across plenty of classics and rarities. The highlights are plentiful and the comp also comes with extended sleeve notes around the black-owned label’s rich history, as well as a reprint of one of the original Black Fire magazines published by founder Jimmy Gray. This is a real piece of black music history.
Much talked about project, now release is finally coming into fruition. Morphology approached Exalt with the idea of releasing one of their tracks. Roll forward a year and this 4 track EP comes with 2 brand new original Morphology tracks and stellar remixes from John Shima and B12 legend Steven Rutter.
Emerging like the blind dead from ancient tombs hidden amongst the seemingly lost ruins, connected by ley-lines and mystical signet rings comes twenty-three undead club-hits from across the globe from Giallo Disco alumni past, present and future. Electro meets Dark-Ambient via Low-Motion Techno and styles in-between, Giallo Disco is proud to present a digital only V/A for your late night summer walks or woodland rituals and remember… always aim for the head…
PAG Records presents their debut hard-hitting EP titled “Drama Queer”. Featuring an all-star lineup, Drama Queer is a 6 track compilation with the endless driving beats of EBM, industrial and techno that give a true glimpse into the feel of PAG’s sweatiest dance floors. This compilation features Alessandro Adriani, Silent Servant, Lokier, Cardopusher, PRZ and E-Bony.
Cardopusher kicks off Psyops Part Two with ‘Disobedience’ (feat. Lbeeze) a slow-motion drum workout that is like dark disco mangled through a psychedelic filter, with robotic vocals and stiff arp jerking your body. ‘Abyss Antidote’ is then a flurry of drum breaks and electro bass, frazzled synths and whipping hits that keep you on the edge of your seat. Darkness abounds on the gritty ‘Initial Decay’ (ft. Lbeeze), which layers up taught drums and hits with spraying synths that come from a dystopian planet. Closing out this epic mini-series is ‘Mutant Brain’, a cyborg techno meltdown with manic acid for company.
In loving memory of the late Detroit legend, Mike Huckaby. Originally released on Sushitech back in 2011 this is a limited 10″, 15th anniversary reissue on a clear vinyl. The label will donate all the profits to Detroit youth in need.
Another classic jammer from 1992 lifted straight from the Strictly Rhythm vaults. Phuture aka acid House pioneers Spanky and DJ Pierre (with a little help from Roy Davis JR) turn in a driving, acidic monster in true Wild Pitch style. Probably the only record that begins with a sinister voice saying ‘This is cocaine speaking’ before diving head-long into one of the best anti-drug House records ever. Bubbling 303 basslines and cavernous handclaps combine with a funked out, dubbed out synth line that just doesn’t stop.
A new dancefloor-ready 12 inch featuring remixes from close friends Mr. G and Direct Movement. Comes housed in hand-screen printed sleeve, designed and printed in-house by Grade 10.
Matthew Flanagan is back under his more commonly known alias ‘DeFeKT’ on International Chrome. The Dublin-based Modular madman serves up four weighty slabs of the finest club-ready electro funk, featuring two guest appearances from Jensen Interceptor.
It’s Belgium vs. Malta for the second split EP on Gated, with Datawave’s tough take on electro kicking off on the A side and Sound Synthesis’s cosmic machine music on the B. Hypnotic pure electro crafted through wiggly electronics and sharp percussion.
The Hipodrome Of Music 