VA – Viva el sábado: Hits de disco pop peruano (1978-1989) [BR171]
This compilation brings together for the first time diverse Peruvian musical groups that immersed themselves in dance music following the codes brought by the disco revolution. As a phenomenon of a new culture, the global dissemination of disco music had various variations and reformulations. The way it took root in Peru constitutes a fascinating yet underexplored history, despite the numerous recordings that came to light, mainly in the 1980s, running parallel to the boom of Peruvian tropical music, the emergence of a new pop rock scene, and the widespread use of synthesizers and electronic drums. And even though the groups were eclectic and moved across various musical genres, their dance music hits have now become cult pieces.
VA – Italo Disco Donna II [MGLP119]
Mondo Groove is one of the leading purveys or disco, Italo and nu-disco and it has been for ages. This new and limited 12″ is packed with four hard to find gems from between the years of 1983 and 1988. They have all been taken from the original master tapes for this special reissue. Camomilla’s chugging and snappy ‘Queen Of The Night’ opens up with a squelchy arp and heavenly melodies, Noa-Noa gets more cosmic and De Dion offers the drama and neon colour of ‘Sexy Cola’ with a fine extended version while Sandy Samuel’s ‘I Like Sado Music’ is a loose limbed percussive workout.
Drexciya – Grava 4 [CAL009RE2023/C#25LP]
Drexciya presents Grava 4. Earth has finally discovered Utopia. (Drexciya Home Universe) Earth scientist discovered the home planet of Drexciya on 2-14-2002. Within moments Dr. Blowfin was given the orders to initiate the seven dimensional cloaking-spheres to hide the other three planets from earths view. The star chart is authentic; you will be able to find the star by using the coordinations on the star chart. The planet Drexciya can be found in the international star vault in Switzerland & recorded in the astronomical compendium. Updated artwork version for 2023, first limited run on translucent silver vinyl.
Lefrenk – Union [MARS035]
Self-taught obsessed with the cybernetic evolution of binary codes, Lefrenk represents the maximum exponent of an ambition to link learning and creative personal evolution, within the underground electronic world map. “Union” marks his debut on Mars Frequency Records.
Sinitsin – False Transmitter EP [EMCV013]
This is the first solo release by Sinitsin, producer, DJ and one part of the duo Formally Unknown. Six tracks of electro with a clippy and dystopian edge come amid the theme of a psyop radio transmitter; a radio tower parasitised by a giant squidlike alien with many grotesque eyes, hijacking our human broadcasts with its own alien agenda. As if to question the popular belief that such a thing has never happened before, each track is hyper-orderly and mega-sequenced, challenging the listener to give over their connotations of humanity with rhythmic imperfection. This is subliminal broadcast electro, bypassing all media and eerily working its way straight to the dome.
Tomorrow Comes The Harvest – Interview
Tomorrow Comes The Harvest – Evolution [AX110]
Tomorrow Comes The Harvest is a theory initiated and put into action by late Afro Beat creator and Nigerian Drummer Tony Allen and Detroit Techno’s Jeff Mills. Each belonging to a long tradition of using music to reach higher levels of consciousness, along with veteran keyboardist Jean-Phi Dary, the three toured internationally until the untimely death of Tony Allen in 2020. Recorded live during Nuits Sonores, Brussels, 2022.
Doxa Sinstra – The Other Stranger / Strange [DRIVE009]
Mysterious Dutch outfit Doxa Sinistra have been operating on the fringes of the industrial-experimental and sound collage tape scenes since the very early 1980s. Their output has long been coveted by fans of DIY and left-field music since their earliest transmissions, and this featured 1983 recording ‘The Other Stranger’ might well be one of their most known. A truly strange offering, the track is a cascading acidic and minimal stripped piece, bathed in disparate resonant sample sources that could possibly have been recorded straight from the TV set. This special 7” Midnight Drive vinyl only edition also features the more stripped back rhythm track version entitled ‘Strange’ on the b-side that is a slightly longer mix with a different arrangement and no samples, letting the minimalist acid and drum machine workout unfurl at its own steady woozy pace.
Model 500 – Starlight [M024]
Metroplex continues its run of reissues with more seminal releases from the label’s essential back catalog. The long-awaited reissue of M024: Model 500’s eternal techno meditation “Starlight”, a mid-90s collaboration with dub techno maestro Moritz von Oswald of Basic Channel, Maurizio, and Rhythm & Sound fame. Remastered from original tapes and sounding super fresh.
Submoon – Illusory Motion [RANGES014]
Submoon’s debut EP is a collection of tracks that capture the essence of techno dub in modern key, with a sound that stands out for its depth and hypnotic atmosphere.The goal is to introduce the listener to a dense and enveloping sidereal sound world, melancholic melodies and static backgrounds with chords that disperse into the surroundings. The Conforce remix is an energetic concentrate, a key revisit to drag you with a more precise focus to the dance floor, fast-dub techno vibes and very liquid details that drag you into the deepest of abysses.
Mike Huckaby – The Tresor EP [TRESOR252]
Following the club and label’s 20th Anniversary back in 2011, Tresor memorialised its two decades of existence with an exclusive mix from one of its esteemed Detroit connections, Mike Huckaby. On that mix, Mike Huckaby included an exclusive production of his, the first one to be released on Tresor Records. Today, Tresor announces the repress of the “The Tresor Track” on wax, making up for a massive A.side cut at 45 RPM. This title is on its way to stand along with the label’s most important classics, a genuine anthem for the Berlin techno institute.
Viktor Apo – Regenerate EP [A.R.T.LESS2172]
Berlin’s Mojuba Records welcome Viktor Apo to the a.r.t.less family, exporting these sonic labour-fruits from the heart of Macedonia. ‘Regenerate’ is a wicked Detroit-technical EP; fast, hat-led, synthetically morphologic. Opener ‘Flow’ lives up to its name with a meandering, oxbow-laking chordstream set channelled through a driving, pistoning techno backbone. Then come the comparative cascaders ‘Royal S’ and ‘Regenerate’, both of which keep the pace. Finally, we’re met with ‘Aerial Scape’, which occupies a strange boxy stratosphere – an ultra-minimal track in progression and texture.
Phil Berg – Raid [SK11X020]
Phil Berg drops ‘Raid’, via Setaoc Mass’ SK Elevent imprint, with four teeth-gritty techno numbers of the utmost immediacy and expediency. Like the immaculate inner workings of a giant snake-mech, hell-bent on seeking out and nullifying all lifeforms in its path, comes the mathematic undulations of ‘Y-Axis’ and the toothily electric acid zaps of ‘Raid’, while B-sider ‘Kamino’ gears us up for a final standoff with the beast. Finally, ‘Sinara’ hears the mech vanquished, leaving room for some meditatively serene padwork, though the drums stay ever-present, keeping us hot on our toes for potential future encounters of the same sort.
Arbilla – Moving Forward [XIST002-12]
Dublin based Phil Robertson DJ/Producer alias Arbilla is back with it’s second release on his own imprint Xistence Records. This 4 tracker EP brings some dark Detroit Techno where classic meets the modern sound. Detroit’s techno legend, lifetime member of Underground Resistance, master of the darkness James Pennington aka Suburban Knight on remix duty… pure Detroit machine funk, more groove oriented version with filthy bass.
Kyle Hall – Cosmic Touch EP [APNEA105]
Apnea 105 presents Kyle Hall in pure Detroit Techno explorations, deep and cosmic dancefloor burners crafted around Hall’s signature syncopated rhythms, reminiscent of Detroit’s 90s Matrix Records era.
MPU420 – BPM1 [IT057]
Releases on the Ilian Tape label are nearly always two things – a) shrouded in mystery, and b) a little unconventional. Given that the painter who created the artwork gets a credit on the 12″s label but the musician or musicians themselves get no mention, it’s fair to assume a) has been fulfilled. The music itself fulfils b) too, as hard edged rhythms clocking in closer to electro than techno provide a vehicle much softer, more sensitive musical flourishes. ‘WantU’ is probably the overall highlight, with its crystal clear arp riffing and Kraftwerk-esque bumping, but ‘Chiemgau606’, the rawer ‘OSC’ and ‘Sinister808’ should all appeal to those who like their grooves esoteric and full of personality – but ultimately still dancefloor slaying.
Benedek – Southland Mystic EP [HM030]
For the latest release on his pleasingly nostalgic Hotmix Records imprint, house retro-futurist Simoncino has turned to Benedek, a Los Angeles-based producer who’s atmospheric, synth-heavy cuts sit somewhere between glassy-eyed Balearic house, mid-80s New York proto-house, deep boogie and Mark Seven’s more sun-soaked productions. He’s delivered a pleasingly strong EP too, with highlights including the subtly bleep sporting Paul Simpson-meets-Charles Webster flex of ‘Puffed Tribe’, the glistening guitars, glossy synths and sunset-friendly colour of ‘After Midnyte’, and the more spacey and psychedelic – but no less tactile and melodious – early morning shuffle of ‘Badlands Oasis’.
Kai Alcé – New Life EP [TOYT152]
Toy Tonics welcome US deep jazz house legend Kai Alcé on their roster. On this 5 track EP Kai once again makes it all feel so easy. Deeply musical, yet also instantly effective on the dance floor, tracks like ‘New Life Livin’ and ‘Slide It In’ come with an ease that shows why he’s shaped the game for decades.
Leonid – Brother Sister EP [ETHOS001]
Ethos Records is a new vinyl only record label based in Athens,GR. It’s aim is to present music from carefully curated artists that are consistent & true to their sound regardless the current trends or hype. For the first release Leonid delivers a deep & dubby, Detroit influenced 4 track EP.
The Hipodrome Of Music 