The Legion of Boogie Down return for their second album inventively titled Powerdance II, adding additional wonk to their future vision of music for night clubs and basements. Formed as a collective by Luke Solomon back in 2017, the music was a reaction to the continuing evolution of genre. The latest album is a continuation on a theme. This time joined by musical partner Chris Penny, rising star Josh Ludlow and original band members Alinka, Lance Desardi amongst others, the live hybrid of fusing wild synths, drums and percussion from the legendary Holly Madge, the band take you in outer space with their trippy spin on disco, funk and house music.
The Sound Signature boss remains in a class of one and continually finds new ground to explore in the studio, often taking a freeform jazz mindset to roughed-up house and techno that blends the mechanical with the soulful in otherworldly, hypotonic fashion. ‘Orange Barrel Action (Yellow Flashing Light mix)’ is very much in that mould with lumpy drums detuned and off-grid keys and hissing hi-hats all coalescing into something seductive and subversive. ‘Pianamonn’ is a deep house foundation topped with weird and wonky keys in inimitable Theo Parrish style.
The term “Ides of March” refers to March 15th since the troubled days of the Roman Empire. But this year, more than ever, one might think these times of Calamity start on March 3rd, the annual TB-303 day, due to the boiling and dark tracks cooked by Mule Driver for this glorious day. Once you hear their lethal drop of electro-acid you can kiss the Roman empire goodbye – Mule Driver delivers the Roland Empire!
At long last, Q Lazzarus says hello to Dark Entries. Q Lazzarus is the moniker of Diane Luckey, born in New Jersey in 1960. While living in the East Village in New York City in the 1980s, Diane met songwriter Bill Garvey at a party and they recorded “Goodbye Horses” in his home studio. As the story goes, Luckey met Hollywood director Jonathan Demme when she picked him up in her taxi during a snowstorm in 1986. Demme was wowed by her demo tape, which was playing in the cab, and they ended up hanging out at a restaurant for hours talking about life and music. “He liked it so much, I gave him the tape I was listening to, he said he would call me for one of his movies, but I didn’t really take it seriously.” said Luckey. Demme would have the song “Goodbye Horses” first appear in his offbeat comedy Married to the Mob, and then again more memorably in Silence of the Lambs when Buffalo Bill changes into women’s clothing while drowning out his intended victim’s pleas with loud music. Despite the exposure, both Luckey and Garvey languished in relative obscurity. “Goodbye Horses” is the definition of a cult classic, an ethereal tearjerker driven by Garvey’s lush synth work and Luckey’s unmistakably powerful voice. Garvey says, “the song is about transcendence over those who see the world as only earthly and finite.” Over 15 years of effort have gone into the making of this release. All five songs on this record were previously unreleased and are sourced from original master tapes.
Mannequin Records presents the debut release from Children Of The Night, a dynamic duo whose music is rooted in cinematic soundscapes. The project brings together Mexican techno producer Alejandro Barba, also known as Dellarge, and French documentary/film music producer Pierre Labret, forging a distinctive creative partnership. Their collaboration masterfully combines dark, atmospheric elements with driving electronic rhythms, drawing heavily from the worlds of classic horror and psychological thrillers. The result is a collection of soundscapes that are as eerie as they are captivating, creating an immersive and haunting listening experience. The LP is not only rich with atmospheric storytelling but also boasts a range of remarkable remixes by prominent artists in the electronic music scene. Contributions from Alessandro Adriani, David Carretta, Legowelt, and Broken English Club inject new life into the original tracks, offering reinterpretations that span from industrial techno to Italo disco, further enhancing the project’s depth and versatility.
Stephanie Lange and Claudia Hossfeld, the original singers of legendary Eighties band Saâda Bonaire, plus founding member Ralph von Richthoven are teaming up four decades later for two very special takes on ‘You Could Be More As You Are’. Dark moody vocals meet super disco beats: this is what it sounds like when pioneering DJ and producer Jens Mahlstedt invites Saâda Bonaire over to his studio.
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.
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.
The Hipodrome Of Music 